The Asmat, once a very belligerent people on the south-eastern coast of New Guinea, had a distinctive skull cult. They had two types of ritually venerated skull:
1: The skulls of important and honoured ancestors would be decorated (like the present example) and kept within the clan, to be venerated and publicly presented during special ceremonies.
Occasionally these skulls were also used as a pillow for sleeping or as a neck rest by the ‘reigning’ family head. These skulls were called ‘ndambirkus’.
2: The skulls of enemies who had been killed, however, were kept in the central mens’ house as trophies, as proof of the bravery and skill of a warrior, proudly displayed and decorated similarly to become a ‘ndambirkus’. These, however, were called ‘ndaokus’; they have two features that make them easily recognisable: these ‘war trophies’ always have a hole in one of the skull’s temples. Through this hole, the brain of the enemy was removed. In addition, ‘ndaokus’ skulls generally lack a lower jaw. This is because the jaw bone was removed and given to the women as a pendant for their necklaces – as a final, humiliating insult toward the defeated enemy.
The present Asmat skull is undoubtedly a ‘ndambirkus’, the head of a highly venerated ancestor (with lower jaw attached and without a hole at the temple).
The eye sockets and nasal cavity are lined with beeswax, with red and light grey seed capsules pressed in as decorations. The red pods are so-called ‘abrus beans’ (abrus pecatorius), while the grey are ‘tears of Job’ (coix lacryma jobi). The lower jaw is attached to the skull with rattan wickerwork.
The nose has a large nasal ornament called a ‘bipane’, just like the ones Asmat warriors usually wear through their pierced septums. This ‘bipane’ consists of a seashell, divided into two parts, with the ends curved inward into spirals and connected with cord. Round rings of rattan wickerwork hang from the left and right cheekbones, with pendants of Job’s tears and feather tassels as purely ornamental elements.
A carefully braided decorative cord headband spans the entire top of the skullcap from cheekbone to cheekbone. It is studded with a row of interwoven Job’s tears, with the rear decorated with a wreath of (formerly) white feathers. Three original teeth can be found in both jaws of this very completely preserved, old ancestral skull.
Overall a perfect, culturally highly interesting object, with a very beautiful, red-brown patina due to long storage in a smoky Asmat dwelling.
19th century to early 20th century; H: 21 cm (skull only), c. 39 cm (total). (ME)

Provenance: Austrian Private Collection.

Lit.: ‘Ozeanische Kunst’ by Anthony J. P. Meyer, ill. 64; ‘New Guinea Art’ by Marcia & John Friede, ill. 518, 519; ‘Art Papou’, catalogue Musées de Marseille, ill. 220.