Malu Board

Item number 3091/13 from the MOA: University of British Columbia.

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Description

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.

History Of Use

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.