bowl
- Museum number
- Oc1920,1023.1
- Description
-
Slop bowl made of wood studded with human teeth.
- Production date
- 18thC(late)-19thC(early) (before 1819)
- Dimensions
-
Diameter: 16.50 centimetres
-
Height: 12.50 centimetres
-
Width: 18 centimetres
- Curator's comments
- Hooper 2006
Originally inlaid with fifty-three human teeth (five now missing) this is a scrap bowl or spittoon for the use of a chief to preserve his food scraps and bodily fluids from being taken and used in sorcery. Teeth were removed by the relatives of a deceased chief as an act of sacrifice and mourning; they were also taken from defeated enemies and incorporated into the possessions of the victor. A hold at the side may have been for pouring.
- Location
- Not on display
- Exhibition history
-
Exhibited:
1975 – 1985 12 Dec-23 Jun, London, BM, Museum of Mankind, Hawaii
2006 21 May-13 Aug, Norwich, Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, Pacific Encounters
2006-2007 28 Sept-7 Jan, London, BM, Power and Taboo
2008 16 Jun-14 Sep, Paris, Musée du quai Branly, Pacific Encounters
- Acquisition date
- 1920
- Acquisition notes
- Purchased from Miss L.P.Keyworth. Said to have been in possession of Kamehameha I of Hawaii.
- Department
- Africa, Oceania and the Americas
- Registration number
- Oc1920,1023.1
