Oceania, Papua New Guinea, Marind / Marind-Anim people, ca. early to mid-20th century CE. A rare example of a wood and seed covered body panel from a dance costume used during dema rituals. The open work panel face is entirely covered with red abrus and white job’s tears seeds that are affixed with resin, and white stork feathers tied to the top. Rituals were carried out with dramatic costumes and drums, reenacting cosmological stories about "demas," primeval beings (plants, animals, people). Dema costumes had attributes to identify the being – the feathers on this panel represented a stork, and demas would also act as totems for different clans – some of which included coconut, wallaby, sago, and betel nut, and crocodile. The stork (Ndik-end) clan dancers wore an abstract bird shaped panel on their heads with a protruding wooden neck and beak. This panel would have been suspended on the chest of the dancer. Size: 11" L x 0.5" W x 26" H (27.9 cm x 1.3 cm x 66 cm); 31" H (78.7 cm) on included custom stand.
Reenacting stories of creation encouraged fertility among the men and women of the tribe. The Marind culture and population was drastically affected by Dutch colonization, and many traditions were considered taboo and outlawed, such as headhunting and ritualistic intercourse.
Provenance: private Hawaii collection, acquired 2000 to 2010
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#177502
Condition
Repaired, some seeds reattached with adhesive, and some losses to seeds throughout and fraying to feathers and some discoloration. Stable pressure fissures to wood panel. Earthen and mineral deposits throughout. Seeds flaking off if handled. Hand written name in Papuan on lower edge of verso. Overall good condition. Please note the abrus seeds are highly toxic if consumed, we recommend displaying in a case.