Title: Unknown
Item Type: Fibrous sheet with shells and tusk
Key Words: Puang, Papua New Guinea, shells, Hooshang Philsooph
Description:
Rectangular fibrous sheet embrodiered with shell rings around the edges and in a square pattern. There are two whole cowrie shells in the centre of each square. At one end of the sheet, a curved tusk is attached with string. The back of the sheet is dyed with red and black pigment in a pattern.
Function:
Unknown, but it could possibly be used as a belt or a hanging ornament.
Dimensions: 45cm x 9cm
Materials:
Shell rings (takei), whole cowrie shells, embroidery string (pirik), fibrous sheet (potentially made of bark or coconut palm tissue), red and black pigment, tusk
Production Methods and Techniques:
Unknown, but likely embroidery techniques.
Condition:
Poor/damaged. There are visible signs of wear to the object and some small tears.
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 SA04.
Name of Cataloguer: Astrid Everall and Ariela Silber
Date: 12/03/2025
Assession Number: SA 01