Bull roarer
Westneuguinea / Westpapua (Irian Jaya), Asmat
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Provenance
collected in situ around 1930 by a Belgian missionary from Kortrijk, BelgiumHerbert Juan da Silva, The Hague, The Netherlands
Taille
H: 37 cm
H: 14.6 inch
Description
light-weighted wood, one half dyed with white, the other one with red pigment, wave-like emblem on the front side, handle-shaped base with eyelet for attachment of cord material, slightly dam., minor missing parts, paint rubbed off;
the bullroarer was attached to a kind of fishing rod-like apparatus and was brought into rotation, which generates a humming tone. The bullroarer’s primary purpose was to act as security for the clan, warning them of an impending attack.