This type of helmet mask (tatanua) is worn by male dancers in large, multi-village funerary celebrations in central and northern New Ireland (Papua New Guinea). It features a large, arching crest of reddish brown plant fiber and sides decorated with red and blue trade cloth and feathers. The wood face, with straight open mouth and [...]
This carving of a woman holding a bowl over her head is one of a handful of such figures collected in the late 19th century in the Solomon Islands. Except for the common subject, no two are alike. This one is painted black, and incised designs on the figure and bowl are highlighted with contrasting [...]
While this sandstone statue of Sitepihu dates to the Eighteenth Dynasty (around 1470 BCE), the block figure itself was a type that was introduced at the beginning of the Twelfth Dynasty (around 1900 BCE), several hundred years earlier. It represents a squatting male figure with a long cloak enveloping his entire body. His arms are [...]
This sash is created from very fine banana fiber. It’s dyed in natural colors, red, and blue. The sash is decorated with alternating bands of intricate geometric designs and plain red strips. This style is characteristic of the island of Pohnpei. It would have been woven by women and worn as a part of [...]
