IDNO

P.98444.LAY

Description

On Catalogue Card for related image P.3846.ACH1: One modelled skull and parts of two arms of artificial bodies attached to centre post of lodge. (Pl. XVII fig. 3). Malekula, South West Bay, Seniang district. (references to J. R. A. I. LVIII, 1928).

“S. W. Bay.
Skulls & portions of made-up bodies in club house.”
[Layard's caption, 1914 - 1915]

View of two modelled faces, and arms of larger figure (jaw of teeth only visible). Beaded armband on one of the arms. [H. Geismar 24/02/03] [updated JD 27/4/2009]

Physical Condition: Negative severely effected by light leakage. [H. Geismar 24/02/03]

Place

Oceania Melanesia; Vanuatu; Malakula; South West Bay [New Hebrides; Malekula]

Cultural Affliation

Named Person

Photographer

Layard, John Willoughby

Collector / Expedition

Date

1914 - 1915

Collection Name

Layard Collection

Source

Layard, Richard

Format

Print Black & White

Primary Documentation

Other Information

P.98437.LAY to P.98452.LAY were found in the envelope now numbered C523/1/, which was loose in the wooden box now numbered C523/ with N.98453.LAY to N.98589.LAY.

Related Image: See notes for P.3833.ACH1.

Publication: This image is reproduced in Layard (1928, Plate XVII, 3) with the caption:
“One modelled skull, and part of two arms of artificial bodies attached to the centre-post of a club-house.”
As part of the mortuary rites for a man who has the grade of Andal or upwards, the body is placed behind the club house and covered with mats, it is then carried into the house and erected on a special stretcher and left to decompose, a special hole underneath to catch the juices of the dead body. After ten days, the head is taken off from the body and placed in a basket which is hung up in the house:
“Meanwhile, an artificial body is being made out of wood, tied together with coco-nut sinnet and covered with the inner bark of the thatching-palm, turned inside out to resemble human flesh. A stick is left projecting from between the shoulders from the attachment of the head. A face is modelled on the skull as like the dead man as possible, and the juice of bread-fruit is rubbed into the hair in order to make it adhere to the cranium. Body and head are covered with a compot made of Mebrul root. All this is done inside the club-house, and is called natatilew. Women are, of course, not allowed to see. On about the fifth day the head is placed on the artificial body.” (1928: 207). After much ceremony, the body is taken into the club-house and attached to one of the centre-posts, where it remains. When it rots, it is thrown away, and the head is attached to one of the beams of the roof.

This print has been catalogued with the support of the Getty Grant Fund.

This catalogue record has been updated to incorporate information published in Geismar and Herle, 2008. Descriptions by Haidy Geismar have been updated to incorporate place and peoples' name and indigenous words. [Jocelyne Dudding 27/4/2009]