malagan
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© Australian Museum
photographer: AM, Photography Dept - Carl Bento
- Summary:
- E000582 - 0/5/1887, malagan, Tabar Island, Tabar Group, New Ireland Province, Papua New Guinea, Pacific
- Item Name:
- malagan
- Label:
- Marumarua malagan figures are used in commemorative malagan ceremonies to honour a person’s memory after he or she has died. A marumarua is an image associated with an ancestral life force known as tadar and is passed on to the next generation during the ritual context of the malagan ceremony. These figures are created to be displayed during a malagan ceremony in order to honour the people that the dead person was married to. Malagan figures are made by specialised carvers to specific designs and forms which are used in ritual context only the one time. After a malagan ceremony, the figures are usually taken to specific sacred areas where they are left to rot. [Ref: Mike Gunn, - Long Gallery text label discussion - 6.6.2017 YCH]
- Keywords:
- religion
- dance
- ceremony
- funerary
- Place:
- Tabar Island
- Region:
- Tabar Group
- Province/State:
- New Ireland Province
- Country:
- Papua New Guinea
- Collection Area:
- Pacific
- Museum Department:
- Anthropology
- Registration Date:
- /05/1887
- Registration Number:
- E000582
- Associated Stories:
- New Ireland, Malagan scultpture and ceremony - construction
- New Ireland, Malagan scultpture and ceremony - symbolism
- New Ireland, Malagan scultpture and ceremony - general
Images
1:
© Australian Museum
photographer: AM, Photography Dept - Carl Bento
2:
iE000582+01 - Malagan wooden female figure. This is 'La Gas' style image also known as "ges" or "Ngass". The pointed ears amd slanted eyes represent bush spirits. Right hand holding right breast, left hand holding extended clitoris. Pith hair, inverted hands, toes projecting downwards. Left hand eye missing [ref: Mike Gunn]
© Australian Museum
photographer: AM, Anthropology Dept - Yvonne Carrillo-Huffman
3:
E000582. Malagan figure. Front side view. Tabar Island, New Ireland Province, PNG. Purchased Captain Farrell 1887.
© Australian Museum
photographer: AM, Photography Dept - J. Steele