Malu Board
Item number 3091/13 from the MOA: University of British Columbia.
Item number 3091/13 from the MOA: University of British Columbia.
This page shows all the information we have about this item. Both the institution that physically holds this item, and RRN members have contributed the knowledge on this page. You’re looking at the item record provided by the holding institution. If you scroll further down the page, you’ll see the information from RRN members, and can share your own knowledge too.
The RRN processes the information it receives from each institution to make it more readable and easier to search. If you’re doing in-depth research on this item, be sure to take a look at the Data Source tab to see the information exactly as it was provided by the institution.
These records are easy to share because each has a unique web address. You can copy and paste the location from your browser’s address bar into an email, word document, or chat message to share this item with others.
This information was automatically generated from data provided by MOA: University of British Columbia. It has been standardized to aid in finding and grouping information within the RRN. Accuracy and meaning should be verified from the Data Source tab.
Tall carved and painted board, with some areas cut-out. Large white face at top has crescent-shaped eyes, a small open mouth showing even white teeth, and a protruding nose that attaches to the board's upper-midpoint. Below the face are carvings of birds, lizards, faces, and swirling motifs in white, orange, rust-red and yellow. Base of object is rounded with a large pointed protrusion at bottom centre. Back of piece is unpainted.
Traditionally created by the Sawos people, malu are traded to the neighboring Iatmul people who use them in the context of male initiation ceremonies. If a boy died during the initiation process, the malu was displayed to the village women to indicate a death had occurred. The complex imagery of this carving incorporates bird, mammal, and insect forms, many of which represent totemic species.
This data has been provided to the RRN by the MOA: University of British Columbia. We've used it to provide the information on the Data tab.
Traditionally created by the Sawos people, malu are traded to the neighboring Iatmul people who use them in the context of male initiation ceremonies. If a boy died during the initiation process, the malu was displayed to the village women to indicate a death had occurred. The complex imagery of this carving incorporates bird, mammal, and insect forms, many of which represent totemic species.
Tall carved and painted board, with some areas cut-out. Large white face at top has crescent-shaped eyes, a small open mouth showing even white teeth, and a protruding nose that attaches to the board's upper-midpoint. Below the face are carvings of birds, lizards, faces, and swirling motifs in white, orange, rust-red and yellow. Base of object is rounded with a large pointed protrusion at bottom centre. Back of piece is unpainted.
Let the RRN community answer your questions
With an account, you can ask other users a question about this item. Request an Account
Share your knowlege of this item with the RRN community
With an account, you can submit information about this item and have it visible to all users and institutions on the RRN. Request an Account