Bag (Bia Karim Men)
ClassificationsClothing and Adornments-bags, pouches, and purses
Dateearly to mid 20th Century
Made AtSandaun Province, Papua New Guinea
MediumBark fiber and cassowary feather
Dimensions39 × 30 × 1 in. (99.1 × 76.2 × 2.5 cm)
Credit LineLoan Courtesy of Jon and Linda Walters
Object numberEL.2003.4.159
DescriptionThis feathered net bag comes from the Bimin-Kuskusmin people of Papua New Guinea's Sandaun Province. Given that the daily clothing worn by men in New Guinea is very minimal, a warrior does not have many places to put the items of daily life like tobacco to make cigarettes, or the flute to play, or rattan to repair bows and arrows. Consequently, a net bag is a mandatory item for every man.There are daily bags, and then there are special bags worn along with one's full regalia of warrior costumes. Those bags can be made of especially revered materials such as cassowary or hornbill feathers, or even prized pig tails. The form and materials of a bag indicate the status of an individual. This particular bag was worn by a man who had reached the highest level of male initiation.
On View
On view
early to mid 20th Century
mid 20th Century
20th Century
