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Details
- Place where the work was made
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Prince Alexander Mountains
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Middle Sepik River
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East Sepik Province
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Papua New Guinea
- Cultural origin
- Muniwara people
- Date
- mid 20th century
- Media category
- Ceramic
- Materials used
- earthenware
- Dimensions
- 20.0 cm height; 34.0 cm diam. (irreg.)
- Signature & date
Not signed. Not dated.
- Credit
- Gift of Todd Barlin 2020. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program
- Location
- Not on display
- Accession number
- 190.2020
- Artist information
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Muniwara people
Works in the collection
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About
The Muniwara-Urimo people live in villages on the grass-covered Sepik plains, between the northern coast and the foothills of the Prince Alexander Mountains in Papua New Guinea.
According to Margaret Tuckson and Patricia May, who visited the area in the 1970s and 80s and documented Sepik pottery industries, in previous times there were many pottery making villages in the area, including Wamango, Timaru, Muniwara, Kowiro, Kumburraga, Yari, Mambe and Pitan. At that time, many villagers still used serving and eating dishes such as this example.
The 'komogi' is a decorated serving bowl that was used by individuals during ceremony and cult activities. The most characteristic feature of these bowls is the undecorated base. These bowls are formed through the coiling method and designs are chip-carved by men onto the leather-hard surface before firing.
For further information see: Margaret Tuckson and Patricia May, 'The traditional pottery of Papua New Guinea', Bay Books, Sydney, 1982.