Head ornament "ambusap"
Papua New Guinea, Iatmul
not available anymore
Size
L: 67 cm
L: 26.4 inch
Description
strings of plant fibre, embroidered with nassa snails, bonnet in open-work design, crocodile head at the bottom, slightly dam., some nassa snails missing;
worn by young women, when entering the house of their future husband for the first time, therefore often called bridal bonnet. At ritual dances even worn by men, encorporating mythical ancestresses.