Institute for Biodiversity Science and Sustainability

CAS Anthropology Collections Database


Catalog Number

CAS 2007-0003-0006   CAS 2007-0003-0006; Cup
Category Culinary Items
Object Name Cup
Culture Polynesian
Global Region Oceania
Country Western Polynesia (?)
State/Prov./Dist.
County
Other Geographic Data unknown
Maker's Name Unknown
Date of Manufacture ca. 1920s
Collection Name Rollo Beck Collection (South Pacific)
Materials Coconut shell; Unidentified plant fiber
Description Deep round cup made from hollowed coconut shell from which the top has been removed and the inside scraped clean; Exterior is decorated with deeply incised designs, revealing the natural interior color of the coconut shell; Designs include a double-headed lizard (?) whose shared body extends across the bottom of the cup, a human-like face whose chin rests on the cup’s rim, and a rectangular geometric shape on the cup’s upper side opposite the human face; Carrying strap consisting of a single thin unidentified plant fiber that is dyed red is looped through two holes opposite each other just below the rim.
Dimensions (cm) Height = 9.9, Rim Diam = 9.5, Max Diam = 13.0