statue for id please

[David]

Originally Posted by BANDOOK

HI ITS A CRUDE ANCESTRAL FIGURE,MOSTLY FOR THE TOURIST MARKETS ,LOWER SEPIK REGION,PAPUA NEW GUINEA

I am admittedly no expert on these, however, when i searched out the "real" ancestral figures from this part of the world they are pretty much ALL "crude" carvings. It does seem that they are most often carved of ironwood, so that might be one clue to actual intent. While i do realize that people fake all kinds of things this item at least appears to have spent some real time in the elements as a true ancestral figure would. So i am not yet convinced this is a tourist item. Being a crude carving does not seem to be a sign of fakery with such item though.
https://www.google.com/search?q=hamp...w=1401&bih=838