Canoe Prow Ornament
| Origin | Yos Sudarso Bay |
|---|---|
| Title | Canoe Prow Ornament (Mani) |
| Date | 20th century |
| Medium | Wood and pigment |
| Dimensions | Object: 11 1/2 × 5 3/4 × 2 1/4 in. (29.2 × 14.6 × 5.7 cm) Overall (includes mount): 15 3/8 × 5 7/8 × 4 1/8 in. (39.1 × 14.9 × 10.5 cm) |
| Credit Line | Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University |
| Accession Number | 90.9 |
| This artwork is currently on view. | |
A carved wooden canoe prow ornament with a bird on top. In the center of the ornament are two hands intertwined.
For many who live on and around the island of New Guinea the creation, use, and decoration of canoes have retained their historical significance. Prow ornaments were often used not only as decoration for the canoe but also as a protective amulet. It functioned to both keep the crew safe on their travels and ensure success in fishing.
The imagery of these prow ornaments often combines humans, birds, and fish. This example features a prominent bird figure on top with the addition of hands and two heads, one looking forward the other looking back at the crew. The bird, which would have faced outward when attached to a canoe, has a special role, as birds were understood as particularly helpful to sailors as they can always find land.
Provenance research is ongoing for this and many other items in the Eskenazi Museum of Art permanent collection. For more information about the provenance of this artwork, please contact the department curator with specific questions.
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"Canoe Prow Ornament | Collections Online." Collections Online. Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University, 2025. https://artmuseum.indiana.edu/collections-online/browse/object.php?number=90.9