Bag
ClassificationsClothing and Adornments-bags, pouches, and purses
Culture
Telefolmin
Date20th Century
Made AtSandaun Province, Papua New Guinea
MediumPlant fiber and pig tails
Dimensions30 × 22 × 5 in. (76.2 × 55.9 × 12.7 cm)
Credit LineAnonymous Gift
Object number2003.57.1
DescriptionThis net bag is adorned with myriad tails from sacrificed pigs. 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 viewCollections
early to mid 20th Century
mid 19th - early 20th Century
mid 20th Century
early to mid 20th Century
20th Century
