Bag Item Number: 3383/11 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Woven bilum (bag) covered with layered rows of brown feathers on one side. Extending from the tightly woven band at the top is a short handle. The bag alternates between rows of dark brown and dark reddish-brown. On one side of the bag, dark brown feathers with light grey tips, are attached by looping the feather's shaft through the bag, and securing it by bending it back through a split in the shaft.

Narrative

According to the donor, the Asmat objects in this accession (3383/1-12), as well as one other carving sold to MOA in 1990 (1481/1), were collected by an explorer named Jim Allen during two trips: one in the spring of 1989, the other in the fall of 1989. On the second expedition they explored the remote Asmat territories of the upper Brazza and Senggo, by hiking down from the highlands.