Gift of Dr. John H. Finney

Gift of Dr. John H. Finney

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.