Carved Head
55-17-12
From: Australia | Northern Australia | Melville Island
Curatorial Section: Oceanian
| Object Number | 55-17-12 |
| Current Location | Collections Storage |
| Culture | Tiwi |
| Provenience | Australia | Northern Australia | Melville Island |
| Date Made | 1954 |
| Section | Oceanian |
| Materials | Wood | Cottonwood Wool | Pigment |
| Technique | Carved | Painted |
| Description | Carved and painted wooden head. Red and yellow natural ochres, white clay, black from charcoal. With cottonwood wool "false beard" like the goosefeather ones worn by men in funerary ceremonies. These heads were, at the time they were collected, a "new" form of native art. The painting represents actual designs of facial decoration for funeral ceremonies. |
| Height | 41 cm |
| Width | 15 cm |
| Credit Line | National Geographic / University Museum Expedition; Jane C. Goodale, 1955 |
| Other Number | 61938 - Other Number |
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