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Multi-length brownish feathers secured to thin bamboo handle with twine. A reddish glue is apparent underneath feathers.
Feather whisk
Courtesy of the Harn Museum of Art, Photography by Foad Seyed Mohammadi

Feather whisk

Maker New Guinean, Sepik River
Datelast half 20th century
Place of originAsia
MediumCassowary feathers, bamboo, twine
Dimensions26 x 11 x 3 1/2 in. (66 x 27.9 x 8.9 cm)
ClassificationsFurnishings and Equipment
Credit LineGift of Dr. Samuel Spring
Object numberS85-SPNG-G263
Collections
Visual DescriptionMulti-length brownish feathers secured to thin bamboo handle with twine. A reddish glue is apparent underneath feathers.
Ruff of feathers secured with twine.
Cassowary Headdress
New Guinean, Middle or Lower Sepik
last half 20th century
Large Dance Mask
Large Dance Mask
New Guinean, Blackwater River, Sepik
20th century
Long open ? plaited fiber cap. When worn extends down back and ends in small likeness of lizard or crocodile with mouth. Strands of fiber adorned with cowrie shells and painted with red and white pigment. Small twine loops with evidence of feathers at top.
Bridal Headpiece (ambusap)
Iatmul
20th century
Finely woven rattan body costume with hanging fiber. Wings and head made from plaited string. Long neck. Design painted on predominately black body. Shell eye. Cassowary feathers extend down sides and ridge of back. Dangling twine from circular disc ears.
Cassowary Dance Costume
Iatmul
20th century
Body masquerade woven(?) horizontally of woven rattan. Pig face with snout from which feathers, twine and fabric dangle. Cowrie shell eyes. Headdress of face. Earrings ? object in nose dangle from ears. Tusks extending from one side of mouth. Rows of cassowary feathers extend length of body and fringe hangs at bottom. Highlighted with earth pigment.
Pig dance costume
Iatmul
20th century
Small elliptical shaped woven face mask surrounded with feathers and attached to large shell with rattan.
Bride Price
Sawos
20th century
Woven rattan helmet-type mask with attached clay covered rattan disk as face. Large pierced nose. Cowrie shell beard. Small slit mouth and eyes. Surrounded by cassowary feathers.
Initiation Mask
Iatmul
20th century
Plaited fiber scalloped oval attached to 2 bands or handles of plaited raffia. Extension decorated with numerous half cowries in a geometric design large square with V-shape extensions. Cut wood on either side of square.
Armband
New Guinean, Sepik River
20th century
Dark green cloth bundle with bulbous base and tapered neck, secured with randomly wrapped red and white thread and green satin ribbon. Sealed with a stopper topped with a tuft of brown and gray chicken feathers.
Vodou medicine packet for Damballah (Paket Kongo)
Haitian Artist
2012
A dark wooden mask featuring incised geometric patterns and large, deep circular eye sockets with raised center pegs. It is topped with a thick crown of dark feathers and fibers, with long, thin tendrils hanging down from the sides.
Mask, ishyeenmaal, isehndemale or pwoom itok
Kuba Artist
20th century
Woven basketry cone shaped from topped with traditional Sepik human head made of clay and painted designs. Large shell eyes, typical nose and protruding tongue. Hair beard. Face encircled in shells, embedded with clay. On basketry torso is the "dual" ancestor's face mocking the larger predominate face. Raffia fringe extends from bottom. Handle on side and back. Wood plug earring. Raffia fringe covers armholes inside. Striped design in red, black and yellow.
Dual ancestral costume
Iatmul
20th century
Headband
Headband
New Guinean, Middle or Lower Sepik
20th century

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