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The Met CollectionHighlights of Oceanic Art

Highlights of Oceanic Art

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

Sago Platter, Bewar, Wood, bamboo, Asmat people — Sago Platter
Bewar
mid-20th century

Drum, Chief Omas, wood, lizard skin, beeswax, sago palm leaves, fiber, paint, Asmat people — Drum
Chief Omas
mid-20th century

Shield, Wood, paint, sago palm leaves, Asmat people — Shield
Asmat people
mid-20th century

Canoe Prow, Osu, Wood, paint, Asmat people — Canoe Prow
Osu
mid-20th century

House Post Figure, Wood, Sentani people — House Post Figure
Sentani people
19th century

Canoe Prow Ornament, Wood, paint, Cenderawasih Bay — Canoe Prow Ornament
Cenderawasih Bay
late 19th–early 20th century

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

Figure (Hampatong), Ngadju or Ot Danum artist, Wood, Ngadju or Ot Danum — Figure (Hampatong)
Ngadju or Ot Danum artist
19th–early 20th century

Figure of a Male Rice Deity (Bulul), Wood, Ifugao people — Figure of a Male Rice Deity (Bulul)
Ifugao people
19th century or earlier

Ritual Seat for a Noble (Osa' osa), Stone, Ono Niha people — Ritual Seat for a Noble (Osa' osa)
Ono Niha people
19th century

Male Figure (Kareau), Wood, mother-of-pearl, paint, Nicobar Islands — Male Figure (Kareau)
Nicobar Islands
19th–early 20th century

Shield (Klau or Kliau), Kenyah or Kayan artist, Wood, paint, human hair, fiber, Kenyah or Kayan — Shield (Klau or Kliau)
Kenyah or Kayan artist
late 19th–early 20th century

Book of Ritual Knowledge (Pustaha), Wood, bast, resin ink, fiber, Toba Batak people — Book of Ritual Knowledge (Pustaha)
Toba Batak people
19th–early 20th century

Ritual Staff (Tunggal Panaluan), Wood, cotton, horse hair, Toba Batak people — Ritual Staff (Tunggal Panaluan)
Toba Batak people
19th–early 20th century

Naga morsarang (medicine horn), Toba Batak artist, Water buffalo horn, wood, Toba Batak — Naga morsarang (medicine horn)
Toba Batak artist
19th–early 20th century

Si gale-gale (puppet head), Toba Batak artist(s), Wood, copper alloy, lead alloy, water buffalo horn, paint, Toba Batak — Si gale-gale (puppet head)
Toba Batak artist(s)
19th–20th century

Ceremonial Banner (Palepai Maju), Fiber, ceramic and glass beads, cloth, nassa shells, Lampung — Ceremonial Banner (Palepai Maju)
Lampung
probably 18th century

Ceremonial Textile (Tampan), Lampung artist, Cotton, Lampung — Ceremonial Textile (Tampan)
Lampung artist
19th century

Woman's Ceremonial Skirt (Tapis), Lampung artist, Cotton, silk, Lampung — Woman's Ceremonial Skirt (Tapis)
Lampung artist
18th century or earlier

Mat (Lampit), Rattan, cotton, Lampung — Mat (Lampit)
Lampung
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

Letros ceremonial cloth (tais), Silk, cotton, Timor — Letros ceremonial cloth (tais)
Timor
19th–early 20th century

Ceremonial Textile (Porisitutu), Cotton, Toraja people — Ceremonial Textile (Porisitutu)
Toraja people
19th–early 20th century

Ceremonial Textile (Mawa' or Maa'), Cotton, paint, Toraja people — Ceremonial Textile (Mawa' or Maa')
Toraja people
19th century (?)

Man’s shoulder or hip cloth (Hinggi), Cotton ikat dyed textile, Sumba — Man’s shoulder or hip cloth (Hinggi)
Sumba
Early 20th century

Male figure (tiki) representing the deity Rongo, Wood, Mangarevan people — Male figure (tiki) representing the deity Rongo
Mangarevan people
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

Drum (Pahu), Wood, sharkskin, fiber, Austral Islanders — Drum (Pahu)
Austral Islanders
early 19th century

Ritual image (to'o) representing the deity Oro, Wood, coconut fiber, Maohi people — Ritual image (to'o) representing the deity Oro
Maohi people
18th century

Female figure (’otua fefine), Whale ivory, Ha'apai Islands — Female figure (’otua fefine)
Ha'apai Islands
Early 19th century

Breastplate (Civanovonovo), Whale ivory, pearl shell, fiber, Fijian people — Breastplate (Civanovonovo)
Fijian people
early 19th century

Club, Wood, Fijian — Club
Fijian
19th century

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

Panel (Masi Kesa), Barkcloth, pigment, Fijian — Panel (Masi Kesa)
Fijian
mid- to late 19th century

Ritual Object, Wood, shell, Maori people — Ritual Object
Maori people
19th century

Gable figure (Tekoteko), Wood, paint, Maori people, Te Arawa — Gable figure (Tekoteko)
Maori people, Te Arawa
1820s

Treasure Box (Papahou), Wood, shell, Maori people — Treasure Box (Papahou)
Maori people
18th century

Weaving Peg (Turuturu), Wood, Maori people — Weaving Peg (Turuturu)
Maori people
Late 18th–early 19th century

Club ('U'u), Wood, Marquesan (Enata) people — Club ('U'u)
Marquesan (Enata) people
19th century

Painting, Sago palm petiole, paint, bamboo, fiber, Kambot people — Painting
Kambot people
mid-20th century

Lidded Bowl (Kotue), Wood, Marquesan (Enata) people — Lidded Bowl (Kotue)
Marquesan (Enata) people
late 18th–early 19th century

Dance Paddle (Rapa), Wood, Rapa Nui people — Dance Paddle (Rapa)
Rapa Nui people
early 19th century

Female Figure (Moai Papa), Wood, glass, paint, resin(?), Rapa Nui people — Female Figure (Moai Papa)
Rapa Nui people
19th century

Pendant, Whalebone, Hawai'i — Pendant
Hawai'i
18th–19th century

Necklace (lei niho palaoa), Walrus ivory, human hair, fiber (’olonā), Hawai'i — Necklace (lei niho palaoa)
Hawai'i
Early 19th century

Navigational Chart (Rebbilib), Coconut midrib, fiber, Marshallese people — Navigational Chart (Rebbilib)
Marshallese people
19th–early 20th century

Weather Charm (Hos), Wood, stingray spines, fiber, lime, Caroline Islands — Weather Charm (Hos)
Caroline Islands
late 19th–early 20th century

Gable Figure (Dilukai), Wood, paint, Belauan — Gable Figure (Dilukai)
Belauan
late 19th–early 20th century

Woman's valuable (Toluk), Turtle shell, Belauan people — Woman's valuable (Toluk)
Belauan people
late 19th–early 20th century

Dohr (Ceremonial Belt), Banana fiber, trade yarn, Caroline Islands, Pohnpei — Dohr (Ceremonial Belt)
Caroline Islands, Pohnpei
late 19th–early 20th century

Dress Mat (Jaki-ed, In, or Nieded), Pandanus leaves, hibiscus fiber, Marshallese — Dress Mat (Jaki-ed, In, or Nieded)
Marshallese
late 19th–early 20th century

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

Shield (Grere'o), Fiber, parinarium-nut paste, chambered-nautilus shell, pigment, Solomon Islands people — Shield (Grere'o)
Solomon Islands people
Early to mid-19th century

Paddle (Hose), Wood, paint, Bougainville or Buka Island — Paddle (Hose)
Bougainville or Buka Island
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

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

Pendant or Head Ornament (Kapkap), Tridacna shell, turtle shell, fiber, New Ireland — Pendant or Head Ornament (Kapkap)
New Ireland
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

Engraved pearl shell and hair-string belt (riji, or jakoli, longkalongka), Pearl shell, human hair, ocher, Western Kimberley — Engraved pearl shell and hair-string belt (riji, or jakoli, longkalongka)
Western Kimberley
late 19th–early 20th century

Bark Painting, Bark, paint, Ingura people — Bark Painting
Ingura people
1940s–1950s

Basket (Jawun), Fiber, paint, Northern Queensland people — Basket (Jawun)
Northern Queensland people
late 19th–early 20th century

Parrying Shield, Wood, Lower Murray River region — Parrying Shield
Lower Murray River region
19th century

Rainforest Shield, Wood, paint, Northeastern Queensland — Rainforest Shield
Northeastern Queensland
mid- to late 19th century

Lightning and the Rock, Nonggirrnga Marawili Australian, Earth pigments on bark — Lightning and the Rock
Nonggirrnga Marawili
2014

Skull Hook (Agiba), Wood, paint, plant fiber, Kerewa people — Skull Hook (Agiba)
Kerewa people
19th–early 20th century

Male Figure (Kaiaimuru), Wood, paint, shell, fiber, Turama people — Male Figure (Kaiaimuru)
Turama people
late 19th–early 20th century

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

Feast Bowl (Kelemui [?]), Wood, Matankol — Feast Bowl (Kelemui [?])
Matankol
late 19th–early 20th century

Ancestor Figure (Silum or Telum), Wood, paint, Anjam people — Ancestor Figure (Silum or Telum)
Anjam people
mid to late 19th century

Ceremonial Bowl, Wood, traces of lime pigment, Tami Islands — Ceremonial Bowl
Tami Islands
19th–early 20th century

Lime Container, Gourd, lime, Usiai Island — Lime Container
Usiai Island
late 19th–early 20th century

Lime Spatula/Currency Holder (Gabaela or 'Nga), Turtle shell, Massim region — Lime Spatula/Currency Holder (Gabaela or 'Nga)
Massim region
19th–early 20th century

Ceremonial Axe, Wood, stone, fiber, Massim people — Ceremonial Axe
Massim people
mid- to late 19th century

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

Headdress Effigy (Hareiga), Barkcloth, paint, bamboo, leaves, Chachet Baining people — Headdress Effigy (Hareiga)
Chachet Baining people
late 19th–early 20th century

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

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

Mask (Lor [?]), Wood, paint, fiber, New Britain — Mask (Lor [?])
New Britain
late 19th–early 20th century

Slit Gong (Atingting kon), Tin Mweleun (commissioned by Tain Mal), Wood, paint — Slit Gong (Atingting kon)
Tin Mweleun
mid- to late 1960s

Gable Ornament (P'naret), Fernwood, Big Nambas people — Gable Ornament (P'naret)
Big Nambas people
mid-20th century

Funerary Carving (Malagan), Wood, paint, shell, beads, Northern New Ireland — Funerary Carving (Malagan)
Northern New Ireland
late 19th–early 20th century

Engraved Bamboo Container (Kare U Ta), Bamboo, pigment, Kanak people — Engraved Bamboo Container (Kare U Ta)
Kanak people
mid to late 19th century

Ceremonial House Ceiling, Sago palm spathe, paint, wood, Kwoma people — Ceremonial House Ceiling
Kwoma people
1970–1973

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

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

Figure (Yipwon), Wood, Yimam people — Figure (Yipwon)
Yimam people
19th century or earlier

Ancestor Figure, Wood, paint, fiber, ferrous metal, Sawos people — Ancestor Figure
Sawos people
19th century or earlier

Ceremonial Fence Element, Wood, paint, shell, Iatmul people — Ceremonial Fence Element
Iatmul people
late 19th–early 20th century

Sacred Slit Gong (Waken), Wood, Iatmul people — Sacred Slit Gong (Waken)
Iatmul people
19th century

Figure (Nggwalndu), Wood, paint, Abelam people — Figure (Nggwalndu)
Abelam people
19th–early 20th century

Yam Mask, Fiber, paint, Abelam people — Yam Mask
Abelam people
early to mid-20th century

Loincloth, Barkcloth, pigment, East New Britain — Loincloth
East New Britain
early to mid-20th century

House-post Figure, Wood, paint, fiber, Kambot people — House-post Figure
Kambot people
19th century

Sago Bowl (Kamana), Ceramic, paint, Sawos people — Sago Bowl (Kamana)
Sawos people
early to mid-20th century

House Post, Wood, fiber, shell, paint, feathers, plastic, metal, Lower Ramu River region — House Post
Lower Ramu River region
early to mid-20th century

Mask, Wood, Romkun, Breri, or Igana people — Mask
Romkun, Breri, or Igana people
19th century

Shield, Wood, paint, fiber, Angoram people — Shield
Angoram people
late 19th–early 20th century

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