Carved male figure. Doll (part a) stands on large feet, legs spread, arms slightly akimbo and held away from the body. Legs are painted white, torso black, and face red. A black fuzzy beard surrounds the chin, mouth is open with small inset shell for teeth, eyes are made of the same shell, as is a headband tied around the forehead. A necklace of tubular sections of grass hangs down the chest, and arms have woven plant fibre sleeves. A bag of netting and plant fibre is slung over the left shoulder and adhered to the wood at the handle. A loin cloth of netting with long pieces of grass at back sits around the waist. Part b is a peice of netting similar to that of the loin cloth. Part c is a small feather grouping that attaches by a hole in the doll's head.

• History Of Use

  Created as an effigy of a deceased family member, payback dolls were used as a reminder that payback, or revenge for their death, was still outstanding.

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• Type of Item doll
• Culture Mendi
• Material wood, plant fibre, fibre, shell, grass, paint, hair, feather
• Measurements height 43.0 cm, width 24.0 cm, depth 10.0 cm (part a) height 39.0 cm, width 22.0 cm (part b)

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• Previous Owner Christine Millar
• Received from Christine Millar

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• Made in Southern Highlands

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• Creation Date during 1980
• Collection Date during 1980
• Ownership Date before October 17, 2017
• Acquisition Date on October 17, 2017

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• Condition fair
• Accession Number 3270/0002 a-c