IDNO

DG.101876.PAO

Description

One of Paka anak Otor’s daughter, Simau anak Paka, stands in front of a set of shelves in their house, posing for the camera. She wears a short-sleeved blouse and knee-length skirt, and a thin necklace.
On the shelves are various objects which are now part of Paka’s mini-museum collection. These include two miniature leaf-shaped nengin (shields) made of bark with central rectangular decorative strips, small trophies and containers, a feather duster, and framed photographs.
Above the shelves are two naval plaques and a pennant, as well as a painted Australian boomerang, all gifts from visiting servicemen. A stagan (leopard teeth ritual necklace worn by men in rituals) hangs off a set of antlers on the left; a collection of ritual bead necklaces (sembun) and hawk-bell bundles (grunung) hang next to the shelves on the right.
Beneath the shelves is a large earthenware jar with bas reliefs of dragons, and two spears sticking out of it. On either side of the jar is a gong.

Place

SE Asia Borneo; Malaysia; Sarawak; Penrissen; Kampung Benuk [Kampung Segu Bunuk]

Cultural Affliation

Bidayuh [historically Land Dayak]

Named Person

Simau anak Paka; Paka anak Otor

Photographer

?Paka anak Otor

Collector / Expedition

Paka anak Otor

Date

circa 1955 - 1970

Collection Name

Paka anak Otor Collection

Source

Paka anak OtorChua, Liana

Format

Print Black & White

Primary Documentation

Other Information

Source: A selection of 185 prints from Paka anak Otor’s larger collection of approximately 500 prints was made by Liana Chua during fieldwork in Kampung Benuk, Sarawak, Malaysia, in 2005. The purchase of non-exclusive reproduction rights [RM 1845, £250] by the Museum to the family of Paka anak Otor [82 Kampung Benuk, Jalan Puncak Borneo, Kuching 93250, Sarawak, Malaysia], and digital copy photographs of the collection [RM 869, £125] were paid for by the Museum Acquisition Fund [£250] and part of a Crowther-Beynon grant [£125] for the collecting of Sarawak objects. The digital scans were made by Fung Huang Colour Photo Centre [153 Padungan Road, Kuching, Sarawak] in 2005. [Liana Chua 2/8/2007]

Objects: These were probably part of a display that Paka kept in his family house, on the floor above the current mini-museum. They are now part of the mini-museum collection. [Liana Chua 2/8/2007]

This catalogue record has been updated with the support of the Getty Grant Program Two. [Liana Chua 2/8/2007]