Hair or Arm Dance Ornament

Culture: Abelam artist
Date: early to mid- 20th century
Material: Cassowary bone
from: East Sepik province, Papua New Guinea, Oceania
Classification: Jewelry & personal accessories
Collection: Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas
Current Location: Not on view
Dimensions: 2 3/4 x 10 1/4 in. (7 x 26 cm)
Credit Line: Gift of Morton D. May
Rights: Public Domain
Object Number: 125:1978

NOTES

While this object resembles a cassowary bone dagger, it was not a weapon. This ornament was worn in the hair or on the upper arms of male dancers during ceremonial occasions and celebrations. The top of this unusual forked ornament has been carved to represent stylized parrot heads.

Provenance

- 1975
Maurice Bonnefoy (1920-1999), Paris, France

1975 - 1978
Morton D. May (1914-1983), St. Louis, MO, USA, purchased from Maurice Bonnefoy [1]

1978 -
Saint Louis Art Museum, given by Morton D. May [2]

Notes:
[1] An invoice dated January 28, 1975 from Maurice Bonnefoy to Morton D. May documents the purchase of this object, listed as "#2123 / Twin-pronged dagger; cassowary bone, New Guinea, Maprik" [May Archives, Saint Louis Art Museum].

[2] A letter dated August 24, 1978 from Morton D. May to James Wood includes the offer of this object as a gift to the Museum [SLAM document files]. Minutes of the Acquisitions Committee of the Board of Trustees, Saint Louis Art Museum, September 20, 1978.

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