Bag
ClassificationsClothing and Adornments-bags, pouches, and purses
Culture
Dani
Datelate 20th Century
Made AtPapua (Irian Jaya) Province, Indonesia
Collection SitePapua (Irian Jaya) Province, Indonesia
MediumPossibly hornbill feather and plant fiber
Dimensions14 1/2 × 16 × 2 3/4 in. (36.8 × 40.6 × 7 cm)
Credit LineGift of Jean Brenner
Object number2017.4.29
DescriptionJean Brenner observed this feathered net bag was worn around the back of the neck when dancing by men of the Dani tribe. String bags decorated with hornbill feathers are worn by initiated and sexually active males who have not yet reached the level of village elder. The feathered bags are symbolically linked to hunting and harvesting rites and are strongly tied to the initiation process itself of nurturing young men into adults, paralleling the actions of male hornbill birds that also nurture their young. Similar to other cultures of the region, these bags usually contain items such as bone awls, shell scrapers, magical items, tobacco and other leaves.On View
Not on viewCollections
early to mid 20th Century
early to mid 20th Century
mid 20th Century
