Canoe Prow

Item number Ie358 from the MOA: University of British Columbia.

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Data
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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