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Description: | Solomon Islands [illegible] figure lashed to stern of canoe No. S 137 Guppy p. 149 P1:203, No. 3"
War-Canoe Figurehead, Musumusu, Probably Roviana Lagoon, Solomon Islands, Central Melanesia.
Tomako war canoes from Roviana Lagoon in the Solomon Islands generally bore a detachable carved humanoid figurehead. These sculptures were termed nguzunguzu or toto isu in other areas of the Solomon Islands, but in Roviana they were known as musumusu.
They have long been highly acclaimed by connoisseurs of World Art. Inlaid with little pieces of shell from the Chambered Nautilus (Nautilus pompilius), these serene, elongated busts are set on the prow at the waterline, so that they dip in and out of the sea as the tomako is rowed to war. Their apparent serenity belies the fact that they were carved to bring protection and success to the warriors aboard as they undertook headhunting raids.
We can recognise this military purpose by the war-cap the figure wears, mimicking the kind of basketry helmets worn by some Solomon Islands warriors. For the 19th Century men of Roviana, the accumulation and display of enemy heads was a necessary demonstration of their mana (spiritual power) and a perilous act of veneration which honoured their ancestors.
Wood, shell, pigment. Late 19th Century. Formerly in the private collection of Mr James Edge Partington.
Wooden canoe charm, inlaid.
caption: Left side of whole of Horniman Museum object no 13.53 | Publisher: | http://www.horniman.ac.uk/ | Rights holder: | Horniman Museum and Gardens | Subjects: | canoe charms wood chambered nautilus shell pigment | Source: | Horniman Museum | Identifier: | oai:oai.horniman.ac.uk:object-71684 | Go to resource |
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