Gift of Dr. John H. Finney

Gift of Dr. John H. Finney

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.

Tall, freestanding sculpture carved of wood. A female wearing a white mask embellished with painted lines and crescent motifs holds an axe aloft in her right hand. She wears a shell and sago fibre necklace around her neck, and a short sago skirt at her waist. Atop her head is a large sea bird painted in shades of light brown, with wings stretched up and out, beak and talons grasping a fish attached to the woman's forehead. The woman sits on the shoulders of a male figure, painted dark brown, who grasps her legs, wearing a large crocodile mask and a feathered loin cloth around his waist. He stands on a small round base carved as a turtle. The eyes of all the figures are shell.

Lip plug, or labret, inlaid with haliotis shell on both sides. On one side is a design which resembles two four fingered hands. On the other side is a sunburst type of design.; Good

Lip plug, or labret, inlaid with haliotis shell on one side in a sunburst type of design.; Good

Wooden slat body armour which has been painted and has small faces carved in a line round its middle. The slats are bound together with string-like binding; Good. Additional description: Armour consists of curved front and back pieces, each with an upper flap. Rear piece is shorter, but curves into a tongue shape at centre. Body sections secured together with four horizontal bands of lashing. Flaps secured with two bands of lashing. Front and back body sections decorated with a row of carved heads. The two flaps have a single head at centre of each. Armour also painted with geometric shapes. (J. Tanner, 1999).

Tall standing figure of a man. Left hand falls to his side, right holds a tall decorated staff. Around his waist is painted a loin cloth reaching mid-shin front and back. Several painted necklaces encircle his throat, as does a plant fibre cord holding a clam shell ornament. The man wears a mask heavily painted in a tan base colour topped with arrows and swirls in orange and dark grey. A tall headdress sits atop his head, carved to look like feathers at the sides and long curving horns at front. The figure stands on a small round base.

Wood carving of a man with drum, snake and bird. Man wearing a mask with prominent teeth and a shell headdress stands in a dance position, holding a kundu drum with handle in one hand and playing it with the other. A burlap skirt sits at his waist, and his ankles and wrists are decorated with loops of twisted rope. His left foot balances on the head of a large snake, its tail extending up past his shoulders and spanning the back of a large white and black eagle that stands on the man’s head. The eagle’s wings are slightly spread and it looks to the left with beak slightly open. The eyes of all figures are made of shell. The base of the sculpture is rounded, with the signature “Sebbie Dumoi” painted in white.

Wooden carving of three masked figures. A man stands in back with a large concave vessel balanced on his head. The vessel is light brown, with scalloped edges and a face carved and painted at top. Two women stand in front of the man, both carrying bags in one hand and decorative objects in the other. They wear elaborate headdresses that fall down their backs and are covered with shells carved into the wood. All figures wear similar skirts painted orange, yellow and brown, belted at the waist, and white cords crossing their chests. The masks they wear are densely painted in orange, yellow and brown on a white base. All figures have eyes made of shell. The base is rounded and entirely carved and painted.