Decorated Skull Item Number: C342 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Clay is molded over a human skull. A yellow-orange brown cord is fastened on in rows, representing hair in contour lines. Shell eyes are round within concave.
Narrative
According to Burnett, the people in New Britain, "believing that the 'Mana' of the dead was centred in the head, carefully preserved the skulls of their dead heroes, and moulded upon them a paste formed of lime and candlenuts, or else plastic clay which they skilfully modelled into a facsimile of the features of the deceased. When this had nearly set it was stained with a black viscuous gum applied hot into which were inlaid pieces of pearl shell forming artistic patterns ... [t]he eyes were formed of perculums. The heads so prepared were placed inside a shrine with carved posts and surrounded by a fence, and termed a 'Vunaha'."
Item History
- Made in New Britain, Papua New Guinea before 1927
- Collected between 1895 and 1927
- Owned by Frank Burnett before 1927
- Received from Frank Burnett (Donor) on July 25, 1927
What
Who
- Culture
- Western Melanesia
- Previous Owner
- Frank Burnett
- Received from
- Frank Burnett (Donor)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- New Britain, Papua New Guinea
When
- Creation Date
- before 1927
- Collection Date
- between 1895 and 1927
- Ownership Date
- before 1927
- Acquisition Date
- on July 25, 1927
Other
- Condition
- fair
- Accession Number
- 2191/0734