Malagan Memorial Festival Pole
Unknown Artist
1800s
Medium
painted wood, sea snail opercula
Dimensions
h. 92.7 cm
Classification
Sculpture
Department
Oceania
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Munro
Accession Number
1971.149
About this artwork
At the death of an important individual in New Ireland society, villagers begin preparations for an elaborate funeral (malagan) ceremony. Food is collected for feasts, and artists are commissioned to carve elaborate sculptures and masks. Neighboring groups are invited to the ceremonies, which last for days and include speeches, dancing, music, feasts, and exchanges of goods. The ceremonies climax in the display of the elaborately carved, brightly painted art works. After the guests' departure, t...