New Hebrides Vanuatu Skull

Malekula skull request of availability

Human skulls with the features modelled in fibrous clay, painted white, hair in spider hear South Malekula, New Hebrides (Vanuatu) Elongation of the skull, caused by the artificial binding of an infant's head, was regarded as a sign of beauty. - Upon the death of an important man, his skull was mounted on fernwood that had been carved with a figure. The grade society figure was painted and ornamented with the insignia of his rank in the ; the skull was overmodelled to as close a resemblance to his actual features as possible.

Price  and more images on request:  Malekula skull request of availability

This is an overmodelled, human male skull from Malekula, Vanuatu, dating from the early part of the 20th century. This area was relatively unaffected by European influence until well into the 20th century. The skull was the head of a man, probably an elder, who had a high rank in the grade, a group of men who usually gained their rank through attainment and distribution of wealth. The men met in men's houses and they performed the mortuary rites for the deceased. The effigy of the dead man would have been displayed in the men's house. After the man died the head was removed from the decayed corpse, by the grade society, and put on to a body made of vegetable fibre or tree fern. The skull was overmodelled with clay to represent the man's features, the face was painted, in this case, white. The hair is made with spider fibers. The effigy was left in the men's house until it fell to pieces. The bones were then preserved. The skull itself was deformed deliberately during the lifetime of the deceased man to elongate it, and this was considered to be a sign of beauty. It was achieved by binding the skull with plaited leaves, while it was still growing and pliable in infancy.

Provenance: This one was bought in the 70's in a gallery that doesn't exist anymore  in Brussels in the rue des Minimes. The is an old round etiquette above the ear, but it is not readable anymore

Price  and more images on request:  Malekula skull request of availability