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Tattoo Pattern

Object Number:P237
Current Location: Collections Storage
Culture:Kayan
Provenience: Borneo
Sarawak
Date Made: Before 1897
Section:Oceanian
Materials:Wood
Length: 4.9 cm
Width: 12.1 cm
Credit Line:Gift of Dr. William H. Furness 3rd., 1898

Description

Flat piece of wood carved to leave a pattern in high relief. The block is inked and pressed onto the skin as a guide for the tattooing. Pattern for a Kayan woman's thigh tattoo. This is an example of an ida lima, or five-line pattern, used by the wives and daughters of chiefs. Almost identical to P238.

Current & Past Exhibitions:

Five Thousand Years of Vanity (06 Jan 1944 - 28 Feb 1944) View Objects in Exhibition
The Dayaks: Peoples of the Borneo Rain Forest (Furness, Hiller, Harrison Borneo Collection) (25 Feb 1989 - 01 Jul 1990) View Objects in Exhibition

Bibliography:

[Article] Shelford, R., and Hose, Charles. 1906. "Materials for a Study of Tatu in Borneo". The Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland. Vol. XXXVI. pg. 1-48 Type Citation : Page/Fig./Plate: Plate VIII, Fig. 2View Objects related to this Type Citation
[Book] McDougall, William, and Hose, Charles. 1912. The Pagan Tribes of Borneo.. London. Macmillan and Company. Type Citation : Page/Fig./Plate: Plate 138, Fig. 2View Objects related to this Type Citation

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