Suspension Hook

Adorned with a stylized human figure that likely represents a powerful spirit or ancestor, this suspension hook from the Tami Islands was both ornamental and utilitarian. Suspended from the rafters of a dwelling or men’s ceremonial house, it served to keep valuable items, hung from the hook-like projections at the base, out of reach of vermin. The delicacy of the suspension loops on the heads of many Tami hooks indicates that the hooks were likely used for lightweight objects, such as string bags or nets. With its complex interplay between curvilinear and angular forms, the figure embodies the classical elements of the Tami style. It wears a dome-shaped headdress crowned with suspension loops carved in the shape of spiral pigs’ tusks, and the legs merge into the crescent-shaped hook.