Headhunting Pole
| Native Name | Bisj |
|---|---|
| Object Number: | 59-9-2 |
| Current Location: |
Museum Library Currently On Display |
| Culture: | Asmat |
| Provenience: | New Guinea Indonesia Irian Jaya |
| Section: | Oceanian |
| Materials: | Wood Plant Fiber Pigment |
| Height: | 364 cm |
| Width: | 27 cm |
| Credit Line: | Purchased from Julius Carlbach, 1959 |
Description
Wood pole (bisj) with natural, unfinished surface; design details in red and a llittle black and white pigment. A large figure, carved in the round, is seated, with dangling legs, at the top of the pole. Projecting from the front of his body is a large flat openwork crescent element (a buttress root of the tree from which the pole is carved), at the base of which is carved a small seated figure. Remains of fiber arm and leg bands. Such poles are made for a festival celebrating the practice of headhunting.
Current & Past Exhibitions:
| Museum Library (1975) | View Objects in Exhibition |
Bibliography:
| [Catalogue, Collection] 1965. Guide to the Collections, The University Museum.. Philadelphia. The University Museum. pg. 1-167 Actual Citation : Page/Fig./Plate: 128 | View Objects related to this Actual Citation |
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