Mouth ornaments like this one were markers of high status and symbols of office in New Ireland, Papua New Guinea. They held them between clenched teeth, so the tusks pointed forwards like an animal and the tassel, made from beads and dogs’ teeth, rattled as they moved. This may be the ornament described in historic Museum records as collected in the Duke of York Islands in Papua New Guinea in the 1830s, by an otherwise-unknown Captain Brown. With the help of colleagues from the Papua New Guinea Museum and Art Gallery, and their contacts with local specialists, this object is now thought to be from the island of New Ireland. Research continues and we are actively trying to find out more.
Click on the blog link to read about the successes and challenges of digitisating the mouth ornament. Listen to the Youtube video to hear this object discussed as part of our Critical Conversation series.
Credit: Courtesy of the University of St Andrews Libraries and Museums
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