flute; sacred bamboo flute with plaited fiber strips and cassowary feathers at both ends; most of one side overlaid with zoomorphic decoration with head composed of gourd and mastic with inset shells, loop-like nose; cowries and other shells set in mastic with cassowary feather trim cover most of one side; sacred flute regarded ad the embodiment of the crocodile spirits of the river; such flutes are usually associated with a cult of supernatural masks; they are hereditary possessions which are addressed by kinship terms and offered food; cf. 11-40731
Donor:
Lewis K. Land
Collection place:
Sepik River, Papua New Guinea
Culture or time period:
Mundugumor people
Collector:
Bruce D. Lawes
Materials:
Bamboo (material)
Taxon:
Casuarius
Object type:
ethnography
Object class:
Musical instruments
Function:
5.1 Religion and Divination: Objects and garb associated with practices reflecting submission, devotion, obedience, and service to supernatural agencies
Accession date:
1971
Department:
Oceania
Comment:
seems too decorated and awkward to be a flute, although cat card describes it as such
Loans:
S1974-1975 #4: University Art Museum (UC Berkeley) (July 19, 1974–February 7, 1975), S1977-1978 #2: Music Library (UC Berkeley) (July 27, 1977–October 6, 1977), and S1980-1981 #34: Triton Museum of Art (November 17, 1980–January 7, 1981)