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Wood sculpture of a canoe figurehead with shell inlay designs that replicate facial paint or tattoo markings. Text on the image reads "Arts of Oceania."

Special Installation

Arts of Oceania

Overview Exhibition Objects Related Content

Body Mask, Fiber, sago palm leaves, wood, bamboo, feathers, seeds, paint, Asmat people — Body Mask
Asmat people
mid-20th century

Beaded apron (sereu), Glass beads, coconut fiber, cotton cord, strips of cotton cloth, Cenderawasih Bay — Beaded apron (sereu)
Cenderawasih Bay
Late 19th–early 20th century

Ancestral Couple (Ana Deo), Wood, Nage — Ancestral Couple (Ana Deo)
Nage
late 19th–early 20th century

Woman's Ceremonial Skirt (Lawo Butu or Lawo Ngaza), Cotton, glass beads, chambered nautilus shell, nassa shells, Ngada — Woman's Ceremonial Skirt (Lawo Butu or Lawo Ngaza)
Ngada
late 19th–early 20th century

Fan (Drel or Ral), Pandanus leaves, hibiscus fiber, Marshallese — Fan (Drel or Ral)
Marshallese
late 19th–early 20th century

Treasure Box (Wakahuia), Wood, shell, Maori people — Treasure Box (Wakahuia)
Maori people
mid- to late 19th century

Epa (carved panel for a storehouse), Māori artist, Wood, Māori — Epa (carved panel for a storehouse)
Māori artist
18th century

Ritual dish (daveniyaqona), Wood (vesi), Fijian — Ritual dish (daveniyaqona)
Fijian
Early 19th century

Flywhisk (tahiri ra’a), Wood, coconut fiber, human hair, Rurutu or Tupua'I Island — Flywhisk (tahiri ra’a)
Rurutu or Tupua'I Island
Early–mid-19th century

Female Figure, Wood, Inyai-Ewa people — Female Figure
Inyai-Ewa people
16th–19th century

Money Coil (Tevau), Feathers, fiber, bark, seeds, shell, glass beads, leaves, Santa Cruz Islands — Money Coil (Tevau)
Santa Cruz Islands
late 19th–early 20th century

Breastplate (Tema, Tambe, or Tepatu), Tridacna shell, turtle shell, trade cloth, fiber, Santa Cruz Islands — Breastplate (Tema, Tambe, or Tepatu)
Santa Cruz Islands
late 19th–early 20th century

Canoe Figurehead (Nguzu Nguzu, Musu Musu, or Toto Isu), Wood, paint, shell, New Georgia Island people(?) — Canoe Figurehead (Nguzu Nguzu, Musu Musu, or Toto Isu)
New Georgia Island people(?)
late 19th–early 20th century

Pendant, Conus shell, New Georgia Island — Pendant
New Georgia Island
early to mid-20th century

Mask (Buk, Krar, or Kara), Turtle shell, wood, cassowary feathers, fiber, resin, shell, paint, Torres Strait Islander — Mask (Buk, Krar, or Kara)
Torres Strait Islander
mid to late 19th century

Headrest, Wood, lime, Tami Islands — Headrest
Tami Islands
mid to late 19th century

Ceremonial Board (Malu), Wood, Sawos people — Ceremonial Board (Malu)
Sawos people
19th century

Pendant or Head Ornament (Kapkap), Tridacna shell, turtle shell, fiber, New Ireland — Pendant or Head Ornament (Kapkap)
New Ireland
late 19th–early 20th century

Funerary Carving (Malagan), Wood, paint, fiber, Northern New Ireland people — Funerary Carving (Malagan)
Northern New Ireland people
Late 19th–early 20th century

Lime Spatula, Mutuaga, Wood, lime, Massim — Lime Spatula
Mutuaga
1900–1910

Mask (eharo), Barkcloth, cane, paint, fiber, Elema people — Mask (eharo)
Elema people
Early 20th century

Headdress (Kapurei), Wood, paint, Sulka people — Headdress (Kapurei)
Sulka people
late 19th–early 20th century

Mask (Kavat), Bamboo, barkcloth, paint, Kairak Baining people — Mask (Kavat)
Kairak Baining people
1973