Institute for Biodiversity Science and Sustainability

CAS Anthropology Collections Database


Catalog Number

CAS 2014-0001-0037   CAS 2014-0001-0037; Walking stick
Category Carvings; Tools & Implements
Object Name Walking stick
Culture Melanesian
Global Region Oceania
Country Papua New Guinea
State/Prov./Dist. Milne Bay Province
County
Other Geographic Data Trobriand Islands
Maker's Name Unknown
Date of Manufacture
Collection Name N/A
Materials Wood; Stain or paint
Description Walking stick or staff carved from a single piece of wood and elaborately decorated with 3- dimensional carvings of a caiman or crocodile whose front and hind legs grasp the top of the walking stick and whose body arches over the top; Caiman’s head is grasping the tail of a snake, while the caiman’s tail extends down the length of the walking stick, where its end is grasped by a long-beaked bird sporting long tail feathers; The bird’s tail, in turn is being grasped by the snake whose own tail is grasped by the caiman; All details of the caiman, bird, and snake are shallowly carved and while the entire walking stick is stained a dark brown, portions of each animal are also stained or painted black, such as a black stripe running down the snake’s back.
Dimensions (cm) Width = 12.8, Depth = 3.9, Length = 89.3