Dance Staff

• Medium: Wood, tree fern, vegetal-fiber paste, boar tusks, pigment
• Geographical Location: Malakula, Malampa Province, Vanuatu
• Dates: late 19th or early 20th century
• Dimensions: 22 x 5 x 4 in. (55.9 x 12.7 x 10.2 cm)
• Collection: Arts of the Pacific Islands
• Museum Location: Brooklyn Museum, BMA, 5H7, TOP
• Accession Number: 74.121.10
• Image: 74.121.10_front_PS6.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, Nov 30, 2010

Catalogue Description:
Ritual head composed of tree fern and clay with boars tusks moulded around a short wooden staff. Head is painted red, white and black. Back of head and chin area painted with red and black dots. Tusks extend upward from corners of mouth and are joined to ridge-like eyebrows. Condition: Good but fragile.