Wristband, mid 20th century, collected 1969 ::

Details

Place where the work was made: Poroma District → Southern Highlands Province → Papua New Guinea
Cultural origin: Kewa people
Dates: mid 20th century
collected 1969
Media category: Weaving
Materials used: plaited split rattan
Dimensions: 17.0 cm length; 9.0 cm diameter
Credit: Gift of Stan Moriarty 1977
Location: Not on display
Accession number: 802.1979
Copyright: © Kewa people, under the endorsement of the Pacific Islands Museums Association's (PIMA) Code of Ethics
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About

This large woven wristband was worn by men, usually in pairs high on the forearm, and was donned only on special occasions.

Wristbands were made using split strands from a variety of rattan canes and vines, and woven using a herringbone pattern. It took between ten and twelve hours to make a pair of woven wristbands and required specialised skill and knowledge.

Older wristbands, such as the one collected by Stan Moriarty in Poroma in 1969, are commonly dark brown, stained by smoke.

[see Paul Sillitoe, 'Made in Niugini: technology in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea', British Museum, London, 1988]

Exhibition history

Shown in 1 exhibition

Plumes and pearlshells: art of the New Guinea highlands, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 30 May 2014–10 Aug 2014

Bibliography

Referenced in 2 publications

Paul Sillitoe, Made in Niugini: Technology in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea, London, 1988. see pages 426-427 for description of these wristbands
Natalie Wilson (Editor), Plumes and pearlshells: art of the New Guinea highlands, Sydney, 2014, 107 (colour illus.), 162. cat.no. 54