We acknowledge the Gadigal of the Eora Nation, the traditional custodians of the Country on which the Art Gallery of NSW stands.

Title

Kompuna (pelvic girdle)

mid 20th century
collected 1972

Artist

Orgiri Tabzono

Papua New Guinea

1940s –

  • Details

    Place where the work was made
    Tirokave → Kainantu District → Eastern Highlands Province → Papua New Guinea
    Cultural origin
    Kafe people
    Dates
    mid 20th century
    collected 1972
    Media categories
    Botanical material , Mixed media
    Materials used
    barkcloth, plant fibre cord, cowrie shells (Cypraeidae), wood, machine-wove fabric, yellow and red pigments
    Dimensions
    waistband 28.0 cm diameter; rear barkcloth panel 50.0 cm length; wooden panel 10.0 x 18.2 x 7.0 cm
    Credit
    Gift of Stan Moriarty 1977
    Location
    Not on display
    Accession number
    604.1979
    Copyright
    © the artist, under the endorsement of the Pacific Islands Museums Association's (PIMA) Code of Ethics

    Reproduction requests

    Artist information
    Orgiri Tabzono

    Works in the collection

    1

    Share

  • About

    The 'kompuna' was worn across the hips and thigh and around the groin. When Australian gold prospectors first made contact with eastern highlanders in the 1930s, men across the region typically wore girdles such as these. Their form and decoration differed from group to group.

    At the front of the 'kompuna' a small piece of wood is suspended, cut into the shape of what might be a butterfly with outstretched wings – as described by Michael Leahy in 1930 – or possibly a bat, which protects the groin. A long length of barkcloth with geometric patterns beaten into the surface hangs from the back, while a shorter strip is suspended from the wooden pubic cover. The entire girdle is festooned with scores of cowrie shells, once a valuable trade item across the highlands.

    This 'kompuna' was made by Orgiri Tabzono of the Abaninofi Clan and was purchased by Stan Moriarty during his last journey to the highlands in 1972.

    [Exhibition text for 'Plumes and pearlshells: art of the New Guinea highlands', AGNSW, 2014]

  • Exhibition history

    Shown in 1 exhibition

  • Bibliography

    Referenced in 1 publication