Ancestor skull "ndambirkus" ·  Westneuguinea / Westpapua (Irian Jaya), Asmat · ID: 3044708

Description

human skull, plant fibre, seeds of Job’s-tear grass, beeswax, feathers (sulphur-crested cockatoo “Cacatua galerita”),

The importance of captured heads in traditional Asmat life is clearly demonstrated by the role they played in male initiation. It was impossible for boys to become men without taking a head. A man’s vital strength is said to be particularly present in the skull, and the life force of another provided the energy necessary for a boy to make the jump to manhood.

The object Ancestor skull “ndambirkus” with the object ID 3044708 was last part of the auction 90.I Tribal Art and 90.II Contemporary Native American Art at November 17, 2018 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 60 achieved a sales price of EUR 3,500.

Here you will find more objects and interesting facts about Oceanian art.

Comparing literature

Meyer, Anthony J.P., Ozeanische Kunst, Vol. I, Köln 1995, p.84, ill. 64

Notices

This object is subject to CITES. Please note that it can only be sent within the European Union. At the present time export in third countries is prohibited, respectively, export licenses in third countries for objects containing or made of protected materials are only granted under stringent conditions.