Canoe Mast Pulley

ClassificationsTools and Equipment-pulleys

Culture Massim

Date20th Century

Made AtMilne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea

Collection SiteMilne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea

MediumWood

Dimensions11 1/2 × 1 × 22 1/2 in. (29.2 × 2.5 × 57.2 cm)

Credit LineCollected on behalf of the Bowers Museum by the Roski-Keller-Martin Expedition

Object number2014.12.18

DescriptionMast pulleys played a pivotal role in the overall function of the kula canoe. These pulleys were used to pull up the sail. This was accomplished through the typically ornately carved form of the pulley. The peg on the right side end would have fit into a slot in the mast as was attached by a rope that was bent around the front edge of a squared-off section and was tied higher up on the mast. The rope used to bring up the sail was fed through the deeply grooved hole seen in the bottom block section of the carving. The stylistic detail featured on this particular carving is a long-necked bird with a cockscomb ridge atop its head. Bird heads appear to be a commonly used design on kuk pulleys.

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