Sago Eating Bowl

Conical bowl. Coiled construction, carved and painted. Patterns are red, yellow, and white, outlined in burnished black. Inside is dark terracotta with small smudged areas from firing. An eating bowl, for individual portions of sago pudding. Supported by a woven fiber ring when in use.

All-over pattern of bold red, yellow and white zigzags, interrupted on opposite sides by two heart-shaped figures, one of which is a human face with round eyes, "anchor" nose, and bow mouth. The zigzags are filled with crescent lines that echo their contours. The face and the contours of the heart are textured with punctate impressions. Many chips and cracks: possibly reconstructed.