This is an oval-shaped wooden Asmat bowl carved in the manner of a miniature canoe. It was likely carved in Papua New Guinea in the latter half of the twentieth century and features a pointed tip on one end and the carved head of a handle on the other. The entire piece is painted red, with exceptions for the sago leaf design on the curved surface. The handle/head is carved with a jutting forehead, prominent nose, sunken eyes, and wide smiling mouth. There is a horizontal groove on each cheek and two small ears. The cranium appears to have once been painted black, which has since faded with time. The underside of the piece shows remnants of white paint and is very roughly carved. The face features a long vertical crack running from the upper lip to the peak of the cranium.
Pieces such as this are produced by the Asmat peoples for practical and ceremonial eating purposes. Traditionally, platters are used to serve roasted balls of sago during meals, which is a staple of Asmat cuisine. On ceremonial occasions, some platters and bowls would also be used to consume the brains of headhunted enemies as a rite of passage. Headhunting in Asmat culture is most prominently associated with notions of fertility and vitality and was commonplace for much of the civilization’s history.
The canoe shape of pieces such as this represents the connection that Asmat peoples have with the rivers and with their canoes. Canoes are the primary mode of transportation throughout the rainforest, and are an essential part of life in many communities. Platters and bowls are often carved so that they blend the forms of men and canoes, symbolizing the connections they have with life and fertility.
Colors: Black, Red
