Ancestor skull «ndambirkus»
Asmat, Papua-Neuguinea
bone, polished, the lower jawbone tightly attached to the skull with a woven rattan band, the eye-sockets filled with beeswax and inlaid with the grey seeds of Job's-tear grass («Coix lacryma-jobi»), red seeds of the crab's eye vine («Abrus precatorius») marking pupils and nose, a pierced hollow bone as nose plug, head band of cord material with tassels of feathers (cassowary) attached; the skull of a treasured ancestor was treated with outmost respect, it was dressed in a ceremonial manner and kept in a secure place. Skulls of enemies however were really treated badly. The brains were taken out to be eaten. The lower jawbone was given to the women to wear as a necklace - the ultimate insult. Even those skulls, called «ndaokus» were kept as a trophy and as proof of a warrior's prowess.
H: 20 cm

Provenance:
Gallery Oliver Bittel, Munich, Germany

Lit.: Meyer, Anthony J.P., Ozeanische Kunst, Vol. I, Köln 1995, p.84, ill. 64
Helfrich, Klaus u.a., Asmat, Mythos und Kunst im Leben mit den Ahnen, Musuem für Völkerkunde, Berlin 1996, p. 175