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Ancestor skull, Ndambirkus, 20th century
Skull, cassowary and tail feathers of the hornbill, beeswax, Abrus and Coix seeds, cane, fiber, melo shell nose ornament
35.6 x 30.5 x 30.5 cm (14.5 x 12 x 12 in.)
The Marcia and John Friede Collection, a Promised Gift to the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco L05.1.379

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Artist Biography: (none) PROVENANCE: Jolika Collection of New Guinea Art PUBLICATIONS: 2005 - "The skull of an ancestor was prepared with the jawbone attached (in contrast to enemy skulls) and had elaborate decorations. This one has the spiral nose ornament, bipane, which, although somewhat resembling boar's tusks and perhaps evoking feelings of a boar's ferocity and power, has several connotations. The shell from which it is made resembles a skull and is associated with the moon; the parts of the ornament curving inward represent Cuscus tails (the Cuscus, a fruit-eating marsupial, is also a headhunting symbol, and because of its gold-colored skin is associated with the sun. See also Smidt, 1993, pl. 1.18; and Konrad, Konrad, and Sowada, 2002: 346). Ancestor skulls were displayed at ceremonial events. They were sometimes worn by a relative, suspended around the neck, or used as a pillow or headrest. For other decorated ancestral skulls, see Helfrich, 1995: 175-77, pl. 11.35-11.39." (Catalog #518, New Guinea Art: Masterpieces from the Jolika Collection of Marcia and John Friede, 2005, Volume 2, p. 175.)

Related Keywords
Ndambirkus Ancestor Francisco San Museums Arts Fine Gift Promised Friede John Marcia Art Jolika people Asmat Oceania Papua West Guinea New object Ritual ornament nose shell melo fiber cane seeds Coix Abrus beeswax hornbill feathers tail cassowary Skull 0709200406050288 A365292 L05.1.379 AOA