Spinning top

Museum number:
11-37833
Permalink:
ark:/21549/hm21110037833
Accession number:
Acc.1915
Description:
top; section of coconut shell rounded, concave surface has incised designs of 4-pointed star enclosed by double rings with hatch-mark designs; hole in center for handle which is missing; spun in the ceremonial plaza by men and boys, to encourage the growth of yams
Donor:
Ellsworth La Boyteaux and Mrs. Ellsworth La Boyteaux
Collection place:
Sepik River, Papua New Guinea
Culture or time period:
Abelam
Collector:
Bruce D. Lawes
Object type:
ethnography
Object class:
Spinning tops
Function:
6.2 Toys, Children’s Utensils, Objects used in the Education of Children
Accession date:
1964
Department:
Oceania
Images:
Hearst Museum object titled Spinning top, accession number 11-37833, described as top; section of coconut shell rounded, concave surface has incised designs of 4-pointed star enclosed by double rings with hatch-mark designs; hole in center for handle which is missing; spun in the ceremonial plaza by men and boys, to encourage the growth of yams

Tools