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Reliquary figure, 20th century
Overmodeled human skull, traces of human hair, coconut shell, sago pith, clay, pigment, cowrie shell. Basketry and bamboo form decorated with bush string bag, shells, bone, feathers, fiber, trade cloth.
197 x 67 x 65 cm (77 9/16 x 26 3/8 x 25 9/16 in.)
The Marcia and John Friede Collection, a Promised Gift to the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco L05.1.84

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Artist Biography: (none) PROVENANCE: "Collected by George Craig before 1970." (Catalog #246, New Guinea Art: Masterpieces from the Jolika Collection of Marcia and John Friede, 2005, Volume 2, p. 122.) PUBLICATIONS: 2005 - "This figure is probably the equivalent of Iatmul reliquaries used in mintshanggu funerary rites to welcome the deceased to the world of the dead (see pl. 162). Also see Dirk Smidt essay, this volume. In fact, it may be Iatmul, rather than Sawos, in origin. A related figure, in the Musée d'Art Africains, Océanien et Amérindiens is published in Nicolas, 2000, pl. 278." (Catalog #246, New Guinea Art: Masterpieces from the Jolika Collection of Marcia and John Friede, 2005, Volume 2, p. 122.)

Related Keywords
figure Reliquary Francisco San Museums Arts Fine Gift Promised 122 p 2 Volume 2005 Friede John Marcia Jolika Masterpieces Art 246 Catalog 1970 Craig George by Collected people Iatmul Sawos Oceania Province Sepik East Guinea New Papua Melanesia object Ritual cloth trade fiber feathers bone shells bag string bush decorated form bamboo Basketry cowrie pigment clay pith sago shell coconut hair traces skull human Overmodeled 0709200406050387 A360999 L05.1.84 AOA