DOI Heft:
No. 81 (November, 1903)
DOI Artikel:Praetorius, Charles J.: Art in British New Guinea
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.26230#0066
2/2 ^5*2^72^ 6*22222<?/2
CARVED CLUBS FROM TROBRIAND ISLAND DRAWN BY C. BR^iTORIUS
by the natives of the Torres Straits are remarkable
productions. Masks of human faces were carved
from a solid piece of wood; the features were
treated in a grotesque manner, especially the ear.
One of the masks in the illustration has a number
of Shell ear-rings, the lobe of the ear showing a
large Perforation; the second elongated mask has a
nose Ornament. Patterns were formed on the face
by numerous white dots.
Head-dresses of turtle-shell were skilfully made,
being composed of a wooden framework on which
was Hxed a number of thin
plates of Shell; numerous
seed-pods and Shells were
tied on, which served as
rattles when dancing.
One dance, that of
" Greeting the Rising
Sun," must have been an
interesting sight to behold.
Just before dawn the
dancers assembled on a
broad Stretch of sandy
beach by the sea. The
men raised their drums
above their heads (in this
way the four Cardinal
points were saluted), then
swaying their bodies to
and fro the drums were
beaten. Round the drum-
mers the other men
danced, chanting a dirge-
like song. As the sun
rose the dancing became
wilder, until the men by
their exertions were Stream-
ing with perspiration, and
when utterly exhausted
they went home to sleep.*
In former days much
attention was paid to the
decoration of canoes.
The Papuans made and
carved elaborate prows
and Sterns ; the main lines
of these prows were grace-
ful curves, which made a
Atting termination for the
craft. A close inspection
of the carved details shows
a keen sense and dex-
terity in the grouping and
arrangement of curves :
devoid of monotony in disposition, they are ex-
cellent examples of a single original motive (z'.t;.,
bird's head) repeated in a variety of ways without
any unpleasant sense of reiteration. On these
prows were tied numerous shell and feather Orna-
ments. The effect must have been very picturesque
when these decorated canoes were fully manned at
sea, with the tom-toms beating.
These elaborately ornamented canoes are now a
53
CARVED CLUBS FROM TROBRIAND ISLAND DRAWN BY C. BR^iTORIUS
by the natives of the Torres Straits are remarkable
productions. Masks of human faces were carved
from a solid piece of wood; the features were
treated in a grotesque manner, especially the ear.
One of the masks in the illustration has a number
of Shell ear-rings, the lobe of the ear showing a
large Perforation; the second elongated mask has a
nose Ornament. Patterns were formed on the face
by numerous white dots.
Head-dresses of turtle-shell were skilfully made,
being composed of a wooden framework on which
was Hxed a number of thin
plates of Shell; numerous
seed-pods and Shells were
tied on, which served as
rattles when dancing.
One dance, that of
" Greeting the Rising
Sun," must have been an
interesting sight to behold.
Just before dawn the
dancers assembled on a
broad Stretch of sandy
beach by the sea. The
men raised their drums
above their heads (in this
way the four Cardinal
points were saluted), then
swaying their bodies to
and fro the drums were
beaten. Round the drum-
mers the other men
danced, chanting a dirge-
like song. As the sun
rose the dancing became
wilder, until the men by
their exertions were Stream-
ing with perspiration, and
when utterly exhausted
they went home to sleep.*
In former days much
attention was paid to the
decoration of canoes.
The Papuans made and
carved elaborate prows
and Sterns ; the main lines
of these prows were grace-
ful curves, which made a
Atting termination for the
craft. A close inspection
of the carved details shows
a keen sense and dex-
terity in the grouping and
arrangement of curves :
devoid of monotony in disposition, they are ex-
cellent examples of a single original motive (z'.t;.,
bird's head) repeated in a variety of ways without
any unpleasant sense of reiteration. On these
prows were tied numerous shell and feather Orna-
ments. The effect must have been very picturesque
when these decorated canoes were fully manned at
sea, with the tom-toms beating.
These elaborately ornamented canoes are now a
53