Ritual Magic Bag with Amulets, 20th Century
Shagur village, Kairiru Island, Sepik Coast, East …

Bag and Amulets

ClassificationsClothing and Adornments-bags, pouches, and purses

Date20th Century

Made AtEast Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea

MediumFiber, shell, wood and stone

DimensionsA: 6 1/4 × 1 3/8 × 1 1/2 in. (15.9 × 3.5 × 3.8 cm)
B: 7 5/8 × 2 × 1 5/8 in. (19.4 × 5.1 × 4.1 cm)
C: 2 5/8 × 2 × 2 3/4 in. (6.7 × 5.1 × 7 cm)
D: 4 3/4 × 3 1/8 × 3 1/2 in. (12.1 × 7.9 × 8.9 cm)
E: 3 3/8 × 3 1/8 × 2 5/8 in. (8.6 × 7.9 × 6.7 cm)
F: 2 1/8 × 1 1/8 × 7/8 in. (5.4 × 2.9 × 2.2 cm)
G: 2 1/8 × 1 1/4 × 1 1/8 in. (5.4 × 3.2 × 2.9 cm)
H: 16 × 10 7/8 × 1/8 in. (40.6 × 27.6 × 0.3 cm)
H shell attachment: 12 × 2 3/4 × 1 7/8 in. (30.5 × 7 × 4.8 cm)

Credit LineGift of Bowers Museum Collectors Council

Object number2001.12.1a-h

DescriptionShaman's Ritual Magic (taro planting set?) set, from Shagur Village on the north coast of Kairuru Island, Sepik Coast, Papua New Guinea, with bag and seven sculpted amulets.
A: Figure, "Chemgau, Fainim rot," carved wood, a lizard sits on top of head, incised designs, arms straight down sides.
B: Figure, "Kutnul, Taro work with stones," standing figure carved of wood, bird-like head and beak and man-like body.
C: Carved stone figure, anthropomorphic, dark brown, "Rim, Kawa and buai, fasting man I kaikai w/ spell before plant taro.
D: Figure carved of stone, black, brown and orange in color, "Misari, Snake- result of successful taro planting".
E: Stone ball, black in color, "Kunduor, to hit a man in the chest to give strength".
F: Small pebble with a face carved on one side, black stone with red pigment in crevices, "Chinchin- messenger, 2 small stones, support to go the gardens with kutnut".
G: Small pebble with a carved face on one side, black in color, "Chinchin-messenger, 2 small stones, support to go the gardens with kutnut".
H: Woven fiber bag with 4 sea shells attached.

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