Canoe Prow

Culture: Iatmul artist
Date: mid-20th century
Material: Wood, shell, pigment
associated with: East Sepik province, Papua New Guinea, Oceania
Classification: Sculpture, wood
Collection: Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas
Current Location: On View, Gallery 109
Dimensions: 42 15/16 x 6 7/8 x 15 3/8 in. (109 x 17.5 x 39 cm)
Credit Line: Gift of Morton D. May
Rights: Public Domain
Object Number: 159:1975

NOTES

A stylized head in crocodile form, as seen here, is one of the most frequent sculptural representations on Melanesian canoe prows. This dramatic element served to aid the canoe’s journey, protect the vessel from malevolent forces of the sea and skies, and assure the expedition’s success. An ideal canoe must seem to fly like a bird or glide like a crocodile along the water. Canoe expeditions were critical for obtaining coveted goods that were indispensable to survival or symbols of wealth and prestige.

Provenance

- 1964
Harry A. Franklin Gallery, Beverly Hills, CA, USA

1964 - 1975
Morton D. May (1914-1983), St. Louis, MO, purchased from Harry A. Franklin Gallery [1]

1975 -
Saint Louis Art Museum, given by Morton D. May [2]

Notes:
[1] An invoice dated January 22, 1964 from Harry A. Franklin Gallery to Morton D. May documents the purchase of this object, listed as "Old Sepik canoe prow, alligator head shape" [May Archives, Saint Louis Art Museum].

[2] A letter dated August 14, 1975 from Morton D. May to Mary-Edgar Patton, acting director of the Saint Louis Art Museum, includes the offer of this object as part of a larger donation [SLAM document files]. Minutes of the Acquisitions Committee of the Board of Trustees, Saint Louis Art Museum, November 6, 1975.

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