Artist:Iatmul
Medium: Human skull, clay, pigment, cowrie shells, human hair
Geograhical Locations:
Dates:early 20th century
Dimensions: 8 1/2 x 7 1/2 x 9 1/4 in. (21.6 x 19.1 x 23.5 cm)
Collections:
Accession Number: 62.18.1
Image: 62.18.1.jpg,
Catalogue Description: Modeled clay on human skull (Mbwatnggowi [?]). Condition of object is fair. Claylike material and paint appear to be unstable on proper right forehead, and upper decorative border on the proper left eye. Surfaces are dusty. From catalogue card: Human skull modeled over with clay and painted red with black designs. Cowrie shell inlaid for eyes and design in shell also on forehead and around head. Twisted strands of black human hair attached to back of skull. Condition: Good. Collected in 1934-36 during voyage of the ship "Korrigane." Such skulls were used by the Iatmul in funerary ceremonies where they were set atop a figure, and in fertility ceremonies where they were displayed atop of poles and manipulated as marionettes. The skull of the dead ancestor, or one who was thought to be beautiful, was decorated to imitate the facial painting of the deceased. Skulls of headhunting victims were similarly decorated and kept as trophies.