Title: Suwau
Item Type: Headdress/headband
Key Words: Puang, Papua New Guinea, shells, Hooshang Philsooph
Dimensions: 45cm x 6cm
Materials:
Shell rings (takei), embroidery string (pirik), fibrous sheet (potentially made of barkcloth or coconut palm tissue) and rattan cords
Production Methods and Techniques: Unknown, but likely embroidery techniques.
Condition: Good.
Description:
Headdress made from fibrous sheet that is embroidered with shell rings, with circular patterns in the centre and tapered ends. A cord is attached to either side of the sheet, which presumably is used to tie to head. This item was previously catalogued as a belt but we believe it is more likely to be a headdress.
This vibrant ceremonial textile, woven with intricate embroidery, comes from Southeast Asia. The fabric is decorated with bright colors, geometric patterns, and symbolic motifs, often representing spiritual or social themes.
Significance:
Ceremonial textiles serve both functional and symbolic purposes, used in celebrations, rituals, and as markers of social status or cultural identity.
Function:
In Puang communities, suwau is part of the bride-wealth and used in land buying or exchanged in peace-making rituals, post warfare.
Provenance
Name of Creator: Unknown
Where the item was created/made: Likely Papua New Guinea.
Date Made: Unknown
Acquisition:
Unknown, but these objects were potentially acquired by Professor Hooshang Philsooph during his ethnographic research in Puang, West Sepik, Papua New Guinea and donated to the University of Edinburgh’s Social Anthropology Teaching Collection by him, where the Social Anthropology Department now has ownership.
Acquisition date:
Unknown, but potentially acquired between 1971-1973 during Professor Hooshang Philsooph’s fieldwork.
Current Location: Chrystal Macmillan Building in storage.
General Notes
Sources:
Philosooph, H. (1980) A Study of a West Sepik People, New Guinea, with special reference to their system of beliefs, kinship and marriage, and principles of thought. PhD thesis. University of Edinburgh.
Other Associations:
There is a likely association with object SA01.
Name of Cataloguers:
Astrid Everall, Ariela Silber and Yiyang Wen
Date: 12/03/2025
Acquisition Number: SA04