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Gain access to this incredible resource through either a monthly or a yearly subscription and search the entire collection from your desktop, compare multiple images side by side and zoom into the minute details of the images. Visit www.davidrumsey.com/amica for more information on the collection, click on the link below the revolving thumbnail to the right, or email us at amica@luna-img.com . Creator Name: Papua New Guinea, Southern Highlands Province, Mendi region Creator Nationality: Asian; Pacific; Melanesian; New Guinean; Papuan Creator Name-CRT: Papua New Guinea, Southern Highlands Province, Mendi region Title: Echidna Figure View: Principal view Creation Date: date unknown Creation Place: Papua New Guinea, Southern Highlands Province, Mendi region Object Type: Decorative Arts and Utilitarian Objects Materials and Techniques: stone, pigment Dimensions: H. 16 1/8 in. (41 cm) Description: This figure possibly represents the echidna, an egg-laying mammal native to New Guinea and Australia. Such "echidna" figures have been unearthed at a number of locations in the highlands of New Guinea, this example comes from the Mendi region. The shared iconography of the figures indicates that they may represent similar beings and have been used in similar contexts across a broad geographic area. However, the identity and function of these unusual images remain unknown. Echidna figures form part of a broader tradition of prehistoric stone sculpture that flourished at an as yet undetermined date in the New Guinea Highlands. While nothing certain is known about their original use, these sculptures, discovered by contemporary Highland peoples during gardening and other activities, are believed to be of supernatural origin and are reused in a variety of ritual contexts. In recent times these objects were primarily associated with the fertility of pigs and sweet potatoes. Powerful stones were ritually anointed with pigâ??s blood to magically replenish the herd and were buried in fields or placed in living shrines of colorful plants to assure abundant crops. On occasion, large groups of stones were massed for Kor nganap, a ceremonial cycle devoted to a female spirit who protected the community and brought success in warfare and traditional exchanges. AMICA Contributor: The Metropolitan Museum of Art Owner Location: New York, New York ID Number: 1984.123.1 Credit Line: Anonymous Gift, 1984 Copyright: Copyright ? 2002 The Metropolitan Museum of Art. All rights reserved. Rights: http://www.metmuseum.org/education/er_photo_lib.asp AMICA ID: MMA_.1984.123.1 AMICA Library Year: 2002 Media Metadata Rights: Copyright (c) 2002 The Metropolitan Museum of Art. All Rights Reserved AMICA PUBLIC RIGHTS: a) Access to the materials is granted for personal and non-commercial use. b) A full educational license for non-commercial use is available from Cartography Associates at www.davidrumsey.com/amica/institution_subscribe.html c) Licensed users may continue their examination of additional materials provided by Cartography Associates, and d) commercial rights are available from the rights holder. Home
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