Canoe Prow Item Number: Ie358 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Triangular shaped wooden prow with a cylindrical shaped base that tapers to a point. The sides of the base are incised with a repeating stylized geometric design. Attached below is a framework of triangular shapes intermixed with fish and bird heads. White pigment outlines the shapes while orange pigment is added to the engravings. Five fibre tassels hang from the base.
History Of Use
The modern context of these canoe prows may be as items for sale to visitors. Most may never grace a canoe. Formerly, head-hunting was an important activity for the Asmat. They equate man with the tree, his head with the fruit. Fruit eating birds on the prow thus reflect the use of these canoe prows in headhunting. Black coloured or nocturnal animals, such as the opossum or cuscus, are also associated with headhunting and are common canoe prow themes.
Cultural Context
tourist craft; canoes
Iconographic Meaning
Figure 6 shapes symbolize opposum's tails, these along with the heads of fruit eating birds symbolize headhunters.
Item History
- Made in Papua, Indonesia
- Owned by Alan F. Pierce before March 21, 1980
- Received from Alan F. Pierce (Seller) and Museum of Anthropology Donations Fund (Funding source) on March 21, 1980
What
- Name
- Canoe Prow
- Identification Number
- Ie358
- Type of Item
- prow
- Material
- wood, charcoal pigment, lime mineral, ochre pigment, fibre and chalk stone ?
- Manufacturing Technique
- carved, painted, knotted and twined
- Overall
- height 37.3 cm, width 11.6 cm, depth 143.9 cm
Who
- Culture
- Asmat
- Previous Owner
- Alan F. Pierce
- Received from
- Alan F. Pierce (Seller) and Museum of Anthropology Donations Fund (Funding source)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- Papua, Indonesia
When
- Ownership Date
- before March 21, 1980
- Acquisition Date
- on March 21, 1980
Other
- Condition
- good
- Current Location
- Case 58
- Accession Number
- 0619/0003