Uli Figure

Artist Unknown (New Guinea (New Ireland))

Place of OriginPapua New Guinea, New Ireland

Datelate 19th-early 20th Century

Dimensions35 in. (88.9 cm)

MediumWood

ClassificationSculpture

Credit LinePurchased with funds from the Libbey Endowment, Gift of Edward Drummond Libbey, by exchange

Object number

2024.15

Not on View

Published ReferencesAmerican Museum of Natural History, Faces and Figures. Pacific Islands Art from the Collection of Jay C. Leff, New York, 1965, no. 44. Gifford, P., The Iconology of the Uli Figure of Central New Ireland, New York, 1974, pp. 234 and 365, no. 127. Jeanneret, A., Laude, J. et al., Art of Oceania, Africa, and America. Recent Acquisitions. Barbier-Müller Collection, Geneva, 1977, pp. 66 and 67, no. 48. Gifford, P., "Uli Figures", in Connaissance des arts tribaux, Geneva, 1979, no. 1. Newton, D. et Waterfield, H., Sculpture. Masterpieces from Africa, South East Asia and the Pacific in the Barbier-Mueller Museum, Geneva, 1995, pp. 310 and 311. Gunn, M., New Ireland. Ritual Arts of Oceania in the Collections of the Barbier-Mueller Museum, Lausanne, 1997, pp. 88 and 89, no. 11. Kan, M. et al., Tribal Art. Barbier-Mueller Museum, Geneva, 1997, front cover and p. 23. Newton, D., Art of the South Seas. Island Southeast Asia, Melanesia, Polynesia, Micronesia. The Collections of the Musée Barbier-Mueller, Paris, 1998, p. 246, no. 2. Gaßner, H. et Vitali, C., Kunst über Grenzen. Die Klassische Moderne von Cézanne bis Tinguely und die Weltkunst - aus der Schweiz gesehen, Munich, 1999, pp. 383 and 457, no. 318. Sollers, P., Ormesson, J. d' et al., 5000 Years of Human Figures. A Hundred Perspectives on the Barbier-Mueller Collections, Geneva, 2000, no. 056. Barbier, J.P., "Confidentiellement vôtre... /Confidentially Yours...", in Arts & Cultures, Geneva, 2003, no. 4, p. 255. Alleva, A. d' et al., Arts of Africa and Oceania. Highlights from the Musée Barbier-Mueller, Geneva, 2007, pp. 320-321 and 394. Denner, A. et Wick, O., Visual Encounters. Africa, Oceania, and Modern Art/Bildgewaltig. Afrika, Ozeanien und die Moderne, Basel, 2009, vol. XIII, no. 7. Beaulieu, J.-P., Uli. Powerful Ancestors from the Pacific, Bornival, 2021, p. 169, no. U1-7.Exhibition HistoryNew York, American Museum of Natural History, Faces and Figures. Pacific Island Art from the Collection of Jay C. Leff, January - May 1965. Geneva, Barbier-Mueller Museum, Art of Oceania, Africa, and America. Recent Acquisitions. Barbier-Müller Collection, June 1 - October 31, 1977. Paris, Mona Bismarck American Center, New Ireland. Ritual Arts of Oceania in the Collections of the Barbier-Mueller Museum, April 30 - June 28, 1997. Marseille, Centre de la Vieille Charité, MAAOA - Museum of African, Oceanic and Native American Arts, Arts of the South Seas. Insulinde, Melanesia, Polynesia, Micronesia. Collections of the Barbier-Mueller Museum, June 5 - October 4, 1998. Paris, Mona Bismarck American Center, 5000 Years of Human Figures. A Hundred Perspectives on the Barbier-Mueller Collections, September 18 - December 2, 2000. Riehen, Beyeler Foundation, Visual Encounters. Africa, Oceania, and Modern Art/Bildgewaltig. Afrika, Ozeanien und die Moderne, January 25 - May 25, 2009.