Figure

84-2-29

From: New Guinea | Middle Sepik River

Curatorial Section: Oceanian

Object Number 84-2-29
Current Location Collections Storage
Provenience New Guinea | Middle Sepik River
Section Oceanian
Materials Wood | Clay | Shell
Description

Large, flat male figure with very large head, standing on rounded base. Forehead, nostrils, jawline and ankles overmolded with clay and inlaid with shells (cowries on forehead, jaw and ankles, nassa in nostrils). Large cowrie shell eyes. Pig's tusk nose ornament , plus carved nose ornament of notched discs. Large bivalve in center of forehead. (Quite a bit of clay, some cowries, and the large shell from the forehead broken off and stored separately in bag.) Apron of strings of twisted fiber, black fiber beard.

Carved oval breast ornament, and incised scarifications. Eleven pointed spikes radiating from top of head (seven broken). Small carved head on back of base, with cowrie shell eyes (one missing). Crack down back of neck and into shoulders on left side.

Credit Line Gift of Benjamin Bernstein, 1984
Other Number 2300 - Other Number

Report problems and issues to digitalmedia@pennmuseum.org.