1898.75
Stylized Bird Carving
Artist
Artist Unidentified
Title
Stylized Bird Carving
Creation Date
1800-1900
Century
19th century
Dimensions
14 3/4 in. (37.46 cm.)
Classification
Sculpture
Creation Place
Oceania or Australasia, Papua New Guinea, New Ireland
Medium and Support
polychromed wood
Credit Line
Gift of Harold M. Sewall
Copyright
Public Domain
Accession Number
1898.75
This painted wooden carving of a bird-like creature is an ornamental mouthpiece, often fitted in a mask during ritual dances in traditional cultural practices from the New Ireland province in Papua New Guinea. Such bird figures are consistently featured in the carved objects used in malanggan, communal ceremonies for a variety of social and spiritual events, such as death, adulthood, and transfers of property and status. These carvings are broadly regarded by people of New Ireland as powerful and even dangerous objects.
Additional Media
reverse