Teket or "Orators Stool"

A very important, fine, and old "orators stool" or teket.

The decor is composed of a large, powerful, standing male figure with a well developed musculature. The plateau or "seat" which juts out from the figure's back is supported by a pair of arched legs each carved, in high relief, with a head-to-toe crocodile. A conical base supports the figure and arched legs. The figures face is carved in a highly expressive manner: the eyes are slightly slanted and inset with cowrie shells; the nose is large and the septum is pierced; the mouth is carved in a wide toothy grin.

Iatmul People, Middle Sepik, New Guinea, Melanesia.
Wood, cowrie-shells, and red, white and black pigment. Patina of age and wear; both ears are missing. Minor conservative restoration to the eyes and the edge of the plateau.

The "orators stool" is more aptly described as a debating pulpit or lecturn. It is amongst the most important and prestigious treasures of the Middle Sepik cultures. The figure represents the wagen, or central spirit - the primeval creator. The debating lecturn is centrally placed during the great geneological debates that are a major part of the mens socio-cultural order. The clans sit in a square or circular formation around the lecturn and the men speak in turn. The speaker either uses a small bunch of sacred leaves with which he strikes the plateau at each important point in his speech or the orator places an individual leaf on the plateau when punctuating his discourse.