1994.250 Skull hook

Possessing potent magical charm, the skulls of slain enemies were hung from elegantly formed hooks like this one. The hooks were suspended from the rafters of the longhouse, where they were part of an altar where prayers and sacrificial offerings were made. Murut blacksmiths forged the iron into graceful spirals. This design is similar to those found on the ikat-patterned puas (cloths), which are also associated with taking heads.

Roslyn A. Walker, Label text, 2013.

Island Southeast Asia   

1994: Dallas Museum of Art, purchased from Pacific American Corp. (Steven G. Alpert), Dallas, Texas

Notes:

The main source for this provenance is the copy of the invoice dated October 25, 1994, in the Collections Records object file (1994.250).

Apply to objects where number equals 1994.250