Artist:Iatmul
Medium: Wood, shell, pigment
Geograhical Locations:
Dates:early 20th century
Dimensions: 26 1/4 x 7 1/2 x 9 in. (66.7 x 19.1 x 22.9 cm)
Collections:
Exhibitions:
Accession Number: 87.218.70a-b
Image: 87.218.70_SL1.jpg,
Catalogue Description: Wood drum in form of a hollow hourglass. Upper third, plain; remaining section carved with fine decoration including swirls and borders of zigzag patterns. Front, central concave area has face in high relief. Face has cylindrical eyes with shell insets, elongated nose, and broad mouth. Mouth has a long tongue hanging down under upturned outward-pointing tail feathers of a symmetrical bird. Head of a second bird begins above face with upturned tail feathers extending out over forehead to bridge of nose between eyes. Overall surface is rough and black; crevices are filled with white and light orange pigment. From catalogue card: Wooden drum. Hollow hourglass form with finely carved embellishment on lower 2/3 of exterior surface. In high relief, a concave face terminates at each end by a bird, with shell eyes. S-volute design pattern delimited by zigzag border at bottom. White and light orange pigment fills crevices and contrasts with rough, blackened surface. Condition: Thin longitudinal crack below proper left eye; another crack on proper left side; two more, very small, from bottom in back. Large and small cracks from bottom upward on proper right side. Sections chipped off of both eyes and another chip lower proper left eye. Abrasions around entire rim.