GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The Asmat believe that death is never natural; it is always caused by an enemy, directly through warfare or indirectly through sorcery. Death brings an imbalance to society, which only a reciprocal death can correct. Death is the impetus for an important Asmat ritual, the mbis ceremony, which both honors the dead and challenges the living to avenge them.
The mbis (or bisj) ceremony involves the carving of a memorial pole from a single mangrove tree. Two or more human figures, representing the dead to be avenged, are carved from the trunk; and the main root is carved into a projection. For the ceremony, several poles are installed in front of the men's ceremonial house. In years past, the pole remained standing until a successful headhunt provided the heads of victims that signified the restoration of balance. After a final feast, the poles were discarded.
Adapted from
DMA Label text.
NOTES
West Papua - Irian Jaya no longer used (made note in TMS)
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RELATED OBJECTS
PROVENANCE
1974: Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, purchased from Harry A. Franklin, Los Angeles, California [1]
Notes: The main source for this provenance is the object record card in the Collections Records object file (1974.51).
[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
- Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History, The Met~Learn more about the Asmat.
- Encyclopedia Britannica~Read about West Papua, formerly West Irian Jaya.
- 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 1974.51
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General Description
The Asmat believe that death is never natural; it is always caused by an enemy, directly through warfare or indirectly through sorcery. Death brings an imbalance to society, which only a reciprocal death can correct. Death is the impetus for an important Asmat ritual, the mbis ceremony, which both honors the dead and challenges the living to avenge them.
The mbis (or bisj) ceremony involves the carving of a memorial pole from a single mangrove tree. Two or more human figures, representing the dead to be avenged, are carved from the trunk; and the main root is carved into a projection. For the ceremony, several poles are installed in front of the men's ceremonial house. In years past, the pole remained standing until a successful headhunt provided the heads of victims that signified the restoration of balance. After a final feast, the poles were discarded.
Adapted from
DMA Label text.
Fun Facts
Archival Resources
Web Resources
- Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History, The Met~Learn more about the Asmat.
- Encyclopedia Britannica~Read about West Papua, formerly West Irian Jaya.
- Encyclopedia Britannica~Learn more about the region of Oceania.
- National Museums Scotland~Explore resources about arts of the Oceania region of the Pacific.
Notes
West Papua - Irian Jaya no longer used (made note in TMS)
Catalogue essays
Artist/designers
Cultures
Geography
Process/materials
Historical periods
Individuals
Subject terms
RELATED OBJECTS
PROVENANCE
1974: Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, purchased from Harry A. Franklin, Los Angeles, California [1]
Notes: The main source for this provenance is the object record card in the Collections Records object file (1974.51).
[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
rules
Apply To
Objects
number
Equals
1974.51
source file
object_notes_4_b-0026.xml.nores