Body adornment (karawut) woven of bark and fibre. The object is coloured with ochre, charcoal and lime, and takes a basic human shape with head at top, protruding nose running down the length of the face, large open eyes, and open mouth below nose. At bottom are two thin legs with dangling cowrie shells as feet. The chest is thickly padded. Lines of cowrie shells are sewn onto the torso and upper legs, and boar tusks, two per side, are attached along the midpoint edges. At back, a short loop of fibre is attached at mid-upper shoulder.

• History Of Use

  Charm traditionally worn on chest, back, or grasped in teeth by men entering into battle.

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• Type of Item charm
• Culture Abelam
• Material hibiscus bark, sennit fibre, boar tusk, cowrie shell, ochre pigment, charcoal pigment, lime pigment
• Measurements height 45.0 cm, width 22.5 cm, depth 10.2 cm (overall)

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• Previous Owner Rudi Kovanic
• Received from Rudi Kovanic

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• Made in East Sepik

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• Creation Date during 1900
• Ownership Date before October 31, 2014
• Acquisition Date on October 31, 2014

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• Condition fair
• Accession Number 3084/0001