Ladle Item Number: Ie439 a-b from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
A ladle with a garamut handle (part a) that has a relief carving of six bird-like heads, all of which have large curved noses. The bowl (part b) is a half coconut shell and is tied to the handle with cane fibres through four holes forming two criss-cross patterns on the back. The end of the handle has one ring, and a knob. The handle is loose.
History Of Use
This kind of ladle is used to serve a basic soup prepared from fish parts, coconut milk, water and various vegetables and leaf materials. This ladle is made from garamut, a hard wood which grows on the mainland, not on Boisa Island. It is traditionally used for carving because of its strength.
Cultural Context
serving; food preparation
Iconographic Meaning
The carving is in traditional beak style, with stylized designs of spirits or ancestral figures. The prominence given to eyes and nose is related to important elements in ancestral worship.
Item History
- Made in Madang, Papua New Guinea during 1964
- Collected during 1972
- Owned by Roger I. Brookes before May 12, 1982
- Received from Roger I. Brookes (Seller) and Museum of Anthropology Shop Volunteers (Funding source) on May 12, 1982
What
- Name
- Ladle
- Identification Number
- Ie439 a-b
- Type of Item
- ladle
- Material
- garamut wood, coconut nutshell and cane grass
- Manufacturing Technique
- carved, cut and tied
- Overall
- height 59.0 cm, width 12.7 cm, depth 12.7 cm
- Part A
- height 54.0 cm, width 3.2 cm, depth 4.3 cm
- Part B
- height 6.5 cm, diameter 12.7 cm
Who
- Culture
- New Guinea
- Previous Owner
- Roger I. Brookes
- Received from
- Roger I. Brookes (Seller) and Museum of Anthropology Shop Volunteers (Funding source)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- Madang, Papua New Guinea
When
- Creation Date
- during 1964
- Collection Date
- during 1972
- Ownership Date
- before May 12, 1982
- Acquisition Date
- on May 12, 1982
Other
- Condition
- fair
- Current Location
- Case 69
- Accession Number
- 0798/0001 a-b