coffin;
human skeletal remains
- Museum number
- Oc1904,0621.13
- Description
-
Coffin of wood in fish shape containing a human skull.
- Production date
- 19thC (before 1891)
- Dimensions
-
Height: 15 centimetres (Human Skull)
-
Height: 30.40 centimetres (special box)
-
Width: 13.50 centimetres (Human Skull)
-
Width: 152.30 centimetres (special box)
-
Depth: 21 centimetres (Human Skull)
-
Depth: 49.50 centimetres (special box)
- Curator's comments
-
Register slip reads: Sta. Anna 134
Published as fig. 9 in Edge-Partington & Joyce (1904) Man no.86, with the comment: The wooden figure of a fish containing a male human skull was obtained about the same period [ie. 1901] on the island of Sta. Anna. Admiral Davis believes the form of burial exemplified in this specimen to be that in common use on the island, and further, that in the case of a chief the whole skeleton was so enclosed, since there were certainly a number of very large wooden sharks (sic) suspended in the Tambu houses.
-
The skull comprises 'unmodified human remains'. No record of research. No claim received.
- Location
- Not on display
- Exhibition history
-
1997-1998 25 Sep-27 Jan, Osaka, National Museum of Ethnology, Images of Other Cultures
1998 11 Feb-12 Apr, Tokyo, Setagaya Art Museum, Images of Other Cultures
- Acquisition date
- 1904
- Acquisition notes
- Register slip reads: Purchased 21 June 1904 [Admr. Davis] per Gerrard / Collected by Adm. Davis during the cruise of HMS Royalist 1890-93.
Davis published his collection of 700 items made as captain of the Royalist in a LIST OF ETHNOGRAPHICAL OBJECTS (BM library shelfmark: MUS/26b-9-6), which bears the handwritten note "BM had first pick - part purchased by Umlauff. Hamburg" Edward Gerrard sold the collection on his behalf.
Collected on Admiral Davis' second voyage on the HMS Royalist to Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands, specifically between 3rd June 1891 and 25th August 1891.
- Department
- Africa, Oceania and the Americas
- Registration number
- Oc1904,0621.13