Hair Ornament (Manyan)

Among the Biwat on the Yuat River, a tributary of the lower Sepik River in Papua New Guinea, hair ornaments (manyan) are one of the many accoutrements worn my adult men during ceremonies. The pointed end would have been tucked into the hair, but similar ornaments were attached to arm bands, belts, and flutes. This manyan is painted in a striking combination of white and red and is further embellished with two fiber chains at the top and bottom. Near the center of the carving, a face emerges where a bright shell forms the eye. A small hole underneath forms a nose pierced with shell or bone ornaments. An animal-like figure sits perched at the top, with four legs planted underneath a thin body. The long tail and head bend downward to mirror the concentric, curving forms that dominate the rest of the structure. These hook-like shapes are strikingly similar to carvings (1978.412.854 & 1978.412.732) produced by the Yimam on the nearby Korewori River (sometimes spelled Karawari). Communities across the Sepik are linked by extensive trade networks, and visual forms such as this demonstrate the dynamic movement, exchange, and innovation of artistic styles in the region.