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Carving a Culture: Symbols

Interior of a hut with shield, drums, and other carvings displayed. In the front of the exhibit is a flipbook containing information on the display. To the left are five photos that show how these shields are made. The first photo is of a man cutting down the root of a mangrove tree. The second is of two men carving out the removed piece and shaping it with tools. The third is removing the wood’s bark. The fourth and fifth are of the two men drawing on the symbols

Symbols

Large carved shield with images of fly fox, a bat, on it. Painted with red, black, and white pigment with plant fibers hanging off the sides. Shield

Momogu village, Emari Ducur region

Made of mangrove wood and painted with red ochre. charcoal, lime, cassowary feathers, and plant fibers.

The Downing Collection of Asmat Art

2001.10.145 The Lowell D. Holmes Museum of Anthropology 

Large carved shield with “B” and “P” shaped designs. The shield has a face carved into the top.

Shield

Keenog group, Unir Sirau region

Made of mangrove wood and painted with natural pigments.

Bakwin Collection of Asmat Art

2001.18.036 The Lowell D. Holmes Museum of Anthropology 

Carved male figure with broken off ankles. He has the tail of a Cuscus, a marsupial, wrapped around his torso and legs. A bird head is resting on him with its beak at the man’s neck. Moon and “c” shaped designs are also found on carvings.

Canoe Prow

Sawa village, Unir Sirau region

Carved wooden prow in the shape of a male figure with cuscus tails on his torso and legs and a bird head at his neck.

The Downing Collection of Asmat Art

2001.10.787 The Lowell D. Holmes Museum of Anthropology 

Wood carving depicting two pelicans. Tassels made of plant material connect to the side.

Canoe Prow

Buepis village, Safan region

Prow carved of wood. depicting birds, and tassels made of plant material.

The Downing Collection of Asmat Art

2001.10.440 The Lowell D. Holmes Museum of Anthropology 

Rectangular mat made of plant fiber with designs of animals including, a wild boar, birds, eels, ray, and fish.

Mat

Er Village, Unir Sirau

Mat woven from plant fibers. Decorated with natural pigments.

The Downing Collection of Asmat Art

2001.10.119  The Lowell D. Holmes Museum of Anthropology 

Large wooden carved shield colored with red, black, and white pigment. The center is covered with a tree root design that resembles the number eight.

Shield

Omandecep, Decep-Jeu village, Becembub region

Made of mangrove wood, natural fibers, red ochre. charcoal, and lime pigments.

The Downing Collection of Asmat Art

2001.10.582 The Lowell D. Holmes Museum of Anthropology 

 

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