Name/Title
New Guinea Canoe BailerEntry/Object ID
MK_0436Description
Carved from dense hardwood and richly decorated with curvilinear motifs, this New Guinea canoe bailer displays both artistry and function. The elongated handle rises above the interior bowl, culminating in a striking zoomorphic form—a bird’s head emerging from the beak of a larger bird, capped with an animal mask. Meanwhile, the phallic design of the handle is thought to reflect protective powers generated by the form.
Part of the Mauna Kea’s extensive collection of canoeing artefacts from New Guinea and its islands, this bailer speaks to the complex lives and traditions of seafaring peoples. Alongside carved canoe prows, paddles, and sterns, it offers a glimpse into daily necessity aboard historic canoes and stands as a testament to both inventive craftsmanship and deep-rooted cultural heritage.
This treasured piece has been in the Mauna Kea's collection since 1965, when Laurance Rockefeller developed the hotel, and was very recently restored.Made/Created
Place
Country
New GuineaContinent
OceaniaDimensions
Height
14-1/2 inWidth
5 inLength
6 inLocation
Area
8th Floor AtriumFloor
8th FloorBuilding
Main TowerRoom
2nd Floor Art Storage Room* Untyped Location
2nd Floor Kohala EndFloor
2nd FloorBuilding
Beach WingRoom
Engineering AtticFloor
Promenade LevelBuilding
Main TowerFloor
1st FloorBuilding
Beach Wing