RecordCarved figure of spirit (malanggatsak), made for malagan festival to commemorate the dead< 1 of 1 > Back in New Ireland, Melanesia
Carved figure of spirit (malanggatsak), made for malagan festival to commemorate the deadThis carving shows a stylised human-like figure, holding a crayfish and standing on a bird. It represents the spirit of a dead person, or the ancestors in general or another kind of spirit, and was made for display during a funerary malagan ceremony. This carving, designed to stand upright on its projecting base, shows a human-like figure with staring eyes, bent legs and a tall, V-shaped headdress. Its arms grasp the claws of a crayfish, whose body is merged with a bird's. The bird feeds another. Malagan ceremonies took several days, cost a lot to organise, and often took place several years after an important person died. They commemorated that person and any others who had died, and sent off their spirits. Record detailsTo search on related items, click any linked text below.
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