Canoe prow ornament
Papua New Guinea - Iatmul
sold
EUR 1,200
Provenance
Günther Markert, Munich, GermanyLudwig Bretschneider, Munich, Germany
German Private Collection, Munich
Size
H: 99 cm
H: 39.0 inch
Description
wood, sago palm bark, palm wood, rattan, cassowary feathers, pigments, cowries, brittle due to age
The Iatmul attached such ornaments vertically to the prow of their large war canoes when they went on a campaign. The warriors were distributed among the canoes according to clan affiliation. Accordingly, the mask face on the attachment represents a clan-specific “wagen” spirit.
Otto Reche reports that these decorative shields were already mentioned in the records of the 1886 expedition. The large, grimacing painted shields were intended to frighten enemies from afar.