Ornament Item Number: Ie427 a-c from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

A light brown-coloured elongated oval wood piece carved as human head (part a). Hair protrudes from the top and extends as a point over the forehead. Facial features are in relief. One horizontal step is cut for the eyebrows. The eyelids surround slit-like eyes filled slightly with silver foil(?). The long nose is pierced with knotted raffia. The cheekbones are peaked, and deeply recessed below, are formed by elevated sections resembling a nose form which continues around to the back of the head. The lips are formed by adding two balsa(?) pieces to the mouth. Faint traces of iron oxide, and black, and white paint. Raffia binding passes through pierced holes at the top back of the head. Dark brown wrapped bamboo ring (part b) with fine wicker work is added out from the edge with the ring width tapering in at one point. (One knotted fragment (part c) is separate)

History Of Use

Gable post decoration. Ring as headdress attached in halo-like position behind head.

Item History

What

Name
Ornament
Identification Number
Ie427 a-c
Type of Item
ornament
Material
balsa wood ?, palm leaf, metal and bamboo grass
Manufacturing Technique
carved, tied, cut and woven
Part A
height 22.4 cm, width 8.5 cm, depth 9.8 cm
Part B
height 1.2 cm, width 18.0 cm, depth 16.5 cm

Who

Culture
New Guinea
Previous Owner
Benno Mattel, Alan R. Sawyer and Erika H. Sawyer
Received from
Alan R. Sawyer (Donor) and Erika H. Sawyer (Donor)

Where

Holding Institution
MOA: University of British Columbia
Made in
Papua New Guinea ?

When

Creation Date
before 1937
Collection Date
during 1937
Ownership Date
before December 19, 1980
Acquisition Date
on December 19, 1980

Other

Condition
fair
Accession Number
0691/0002 a-c