Dance Wand (Bair)

Unknown

late 19th–early 20th century · Wood, paint, feathers, shell, fiber · Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas

The Tolai people of northern New Britain create a great variety of ceremonial paraphernalia known collectively as pokopoko, which are worn or carried during dances and other performances. This work is a dance wand (bair). Bair are carried in pairs by men during a dance known as kulau (young coconut). However, the name of these objects changes with their context. They are called bair only when in use. When not in use, they are kept inside a sacred house and are called simply pokopoko (ceremonial paraphernalia). Bair and other dance accessories are made, or designed, by tena buai, men and women initiated into the sacred knowledge of music. The central images represent spirits (tabalivana). The spirit image is often highly stylized but must include at least one recognizable anatomical feature, such as eyes or a limb. In this wand, the spirit is shown nearly complete, with prominent eyes, a slender body, flexed legs, and out-turned feet with numerous delicate toes.

Artist

Unknown

Date

late 19th–early 20th century

Medium

Wood, paint, feathers, shell, fiber

Culture

Tolai people

Department

Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas

Credit line

Gift of Frieda and Milton F. Rosenthal, 1984