A Large Massim Canoe Splashboard (Lagim)...

Description

A Large Massim Canoe Splashboard (Lagim)
Trobriand Islands, Papua New Guinea, c. late 19th-early 20th century

Wood with red-brown and white pigment. An unusually large and heavy canoe splashboard (lagim), carved in openwork with scrolling wave motifs across the top, down the rounded sides, and in vertical rows up the stem. At the crest a squatting figure with raised arms forms the centerpiece. Remnants of red-brown and white pigment enliven the surface and emphasize the bold curves of the design. Small perforations along the upper edge likely held additional fiber or feather elements, while the back is cut with long vertical slots for attachment to the canoe's prow. At 33 inches wide, this is a monumental example of the type. Condition: Surface wear and weathering consistent with age and use; small losses to extremities. Overall stable, pigments well preserved.

Splashboards such as this were mounted at the fronts of great seagoing canoes used in the kula exchange cycle. Their scale, vibrant color, and sculptural inventiveness proclaimed the prestige of the owner and enhanced the ritual efficacy of the voyage.

Width: 33 inches

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