uli figure

religious carving

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Last updated

July 14, 2026

Quick Summary

The uli figure is a wooden statue from New Ireland, Papua New Guinea, representing an ancestral or mythological figure within secret uli rites. These figures are carved and painted with distinct features and anatomy, often adorned with a helmet-like cap and a comb. The facial features can appear threatening, and the figures possess both male and female sexual organs.1

A unique characteristic of uli figures is the incorporation of smaller duplicate cult figures attached to the main body. These statues are completed after a series of 13 festivals spanning three years, with celebrations held before them.1

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Oceanic art and architecture
New Ireland
…cults were carvings known as uli. These are standing figures with female breasts and male genitals; they sometimes have raised hands and may support smaller figures in front of them or on their shoulders. The head is usually large and is topped by a thin, upright crest; the eyes are…
Read More
…cults were carvings known as uli. These are standing figures with female breasts and male genitals; they sometimes have raised hands and may support smaller figures in front of them or on their shoulders. The head is usually large and is topped by a thin, upright crest; the eyes are…
Read More