In June 2006, the Musée du Quai Branly acquired an exceptional piece of sculpture by the Abelam, a people who inhabit the Maprik region along the river Sepik in Papua-New Guinea. They are known for their extremely rich artistic production and for their very large ceremonial houses. The earliest studies of Abelam material culture led to the development of numerous concepts essential to the understanding of Oceanic Art and to the anthropology of art in general. The study of the iconography and nature of this piece allow us to reconsider some of these fundamental concepts. The acquisition of this polychrome work, finely sculpted on both sides, has significantly enriched the Oceanic collections of the Musée du Quai Branly.