GENERAL DESCRIPTION
On the east coast of Papua New Guinea, the land adjacent to the Huon Gulf and the small Tami Islands offshore form a distinctive Melanesian style area. The treatment of the human figure, which appears on architectural elements, neckrests, and ladles as well as free-standing sculpture, distinguishes objects in the Huon Gulf style: the forms are bold and blocky; incised lines provide detail; and human figures are invariably neckless, the head placed low on the chest, supported by hunched shoulders.
This panel was probably part of a men's ceremonial house (lum), which was closely associated with the ritual that accompanied a boy's initiation into manhood and participation in the religious life of the group. The depiction of a serpent or fish between the legs of many Huon Gulf figures may refer to a legend about a sea spirit that comes ashore in human form to seduce young men and women, who die as a result of the encounter.
Excerpt from
DMA Label text.
NOTES
Tami Islands is not listed in TGN - the alternatives for geography are Papua New Guinea, or Huon Gulf - the broader and the approximate - Not yet entered in TMS
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Artist/designers
Cultures
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RELATED OBJECTS
PROVENANCE
1888: Collected near Finschafen by Deutsche Neu-Guinea Compagnie
1888: Museum fur Volkerkunde, Berlin, acquired from above
n.d.: Clausmeyer Collection, Dusseldorf
n.d.: Rautenstrauch-Joest Museum, Koln
1967: Robert Stolper & Morton Lipkin, Morton Lipkin, London
1975: Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, purchased from above [1]
Notes:
The main source for this provenance is the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts Collection document in the Collections Records object file (1975.5).
[1] The name of the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, founded in 1933, was changed to the Dallas Museum of Art in 1983.
AUDIO ASSETS
VIDEO ASSETS
IMAGE ASSETS
WEB RESOURCES
- Encyclopedia Britannica~Read about the climate, people, culture, and history of Papua New Guinea.
- Encyclopedia Britannica~Learn more about the region of Oceania.
- National Museums Scotland~Explore resources about arts of the Oceania region of the Pacific.
ARCHIVAL RESOURCES
FUN FACTS
TEACHING IDEAS
RULES
Apply to objects where number equals 1975.5
Category
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General Description
On the east coast of Papua New Guinea, the land adjacent to the Huon Gulf and the small Tami Islands offshore form a distinctive Melanesian style area. The treatment of the human figure, which appears on architectural elements, neckrests, and ladles as well as free-standing sculpture, distinguishes objects in the Huon Gulf style: the forms are bold and blocky; incised lines provide detail; and human figures are invariably neckless, the head placed low on the chest, supported by hunched shoulders.
This panel was probably part of a men's ceremonial house (lum), which was closely associated with the ritual that accompanied a boy's initiation into manhood and participation in the religious life of the group. The depiction of a serpent or fish between the legs of many Huon Gulf figures may refer to a legend about a sea spirit that comes ashore in human form to seduce young men and women, who die as a result of the encounter.
Excerpt from
DMA Label text.
Fun Facts
Archival Resources
Web Resources
- Encyclopedia Britannica~Read about the climate, people, culture, and history of Papua New Guinea.
- Encyclopedia Britannica~Learn more about the region of Oceania.
- National Museums Scotland~Explore resources about arts of the Oceania region of the Pacific.
Notes
Tami Islands is not listed in TGN - the alternatives for geography are Papua New Guinea, or Huon Gulf - the broader and the approximate - Not yet entered in TMS
Catalogue essays
Artist/designers
Cultures
Geography
Process/materials
Historical periods
Individuals
Subject terms
RELATED OBJECTS
PROVENANCE
1888: Collected near Finschafen by Deutsche Neu-Guinea Compagnie
1888: Museum fur Volkerkunde, Berlin, acquired from above
n.d.: Clausmeyer Collection, Dusseldorf
n.d.: Rautenstrauch-Joest Museum, Koln
1967: Robert Stolper & Morton Lipkin, Morton Lipkin, London
1975: Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, purchased from above [1]
Notes:
The main source for this provenance is the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts Collection document in the Collections Records object file (1975.5).
[1] The name of the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, founded in 1933, was changed to the Dallas Museum of Art in 1983.
AUDIO ASSETS
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rules
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1975.5
source file
object_notes_4_b-0025.xml.nores