Suspension Hook Item Number: Ie359 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Basket hook with a shaft formed by a male figure carved in profile with an extended nose and mouth that down to his belly, and his hands hold the nose. A cord is attached for hanging through a hole at the top of the figure's head. The hook is double-sided.
History Of Use
Hooks are used to suspend ceremonial and domestic goods, female hooks are used for domestic purposes. The female hooks represent images of food spirits and by extension, of fertility. Domestic hooks may represent female ancestors, revered as protectors of the home and family. Hooks used to suspend ceremonial goods in the spirit houses are always male and are thought to contain ancestor spirits which protect the contents and the owners.
Cultural Context
ceremonial goods
Item History
- Made in East Sepik, Papua New Guinea
- 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
- Suspension Hook
- Identification Number
- Ie359
- Type of Item
- hook
- Material
- wood, charcoal pigment, ochre pigment, oil and plant fibre
- Manufacturing Technique
- carved, painted, incised and stained
- Overall
- height 86.0 cm, width 27.0 cm, depth 6.0 cm
Who
- Culture
- New Guinea
- 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
- East Sepik, Papua New Guinea
When
- Ownership Date
- before March 21, 1980
- Acquisition Date
- on March 21, 1980
Other
- Condition
- good
- Current Location
- Case 69
- Accession Number
- 0619/0004