Accession No

Z 7520


Description

'Kerkar sam' (Kerger sam - 'young thin sam') or 'wer sam' (probably from 'werem' - 'a child). Head-dress made of short brown feathers of young cassowary bound into fine string band. Used by men for fighting or dancing.


Place

Oceania; Australasia; Australia; Queensland; Torres Strait; Mer


Period

19th century


Source

Haddon, Alfred Cort (Dr) [collector and donor]


Department

Anth


Reference Numbers

Z 7520; OH 836


Cultural Affliation


Material

Cassowary Feather; Feather


Local Term

Kerger sam; Wer sam


Measurements


Events

Context (Related Documents)
Card 1 (hanwritten): 'KERKAR SAM (KERGER SAM = "Young Thin sam") or WER SAM (probably from WEREM - "a child"). Head-dress made of the short brown feathers of the young cassowary sam.'
Card 2 (transcribed, 1986): 'Short brown feathers of young cassowary bound into fine string band.'
Used by men for fighting or dancing. Stated to have been imported from New Guinea; Good
Event Date
Author: maa


Context (Related Documents)
Pencil writing on the back of the handwritten catalogue card reads 'hoho'.
Event Date
Author: Guey-Mei Hsu


Context (Field collection)
Collected by Dr Alfred Cort Haddon in 1889.
Event Date 1889
Author: maa


Context (References)
Haddon, A.C. et al (1912) 'Reports of the Cambridge Anthropological Expedition to Torres Straits: Vol. 4, Arts and Crafts'. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, p. 36.
Event Date 1912
Author: Guey-Mei Hsu


Context (Related Documents)
Transcribed catalogue card notes 'References: TSR 4: 36'
Event Date 6/11/1986
Author: Guey-Mei Hsu


Context (Production / use)
By men for fighting or dancing. [transcribed catalogue card, 1986]
Event Date 6/11/1986
Author: Guey-Mei Hsu


Description (Physical description)
'Kerkar sam' (Kerger sam - 'young thin sam') or 'wer sam' (probably from 'werem' - 'a child). Head-dress made of short brown feathers of young cassowary bound into fine string band. Used by men for fighting or dancing. Stated to have been imported from New Guinea.
Event Date 10/7/2024
Author: Guey-Mei Hsu


FM:79562

Images (Click to view full size):