Bullroarer (Imunu Viki?)

Unknown

late 19th century · wood, lime · Musical Instruments

This thin blade howls or roars when whirled through the air on a string. In Papua New Guinea, bullroarers hold a traditional place of honor in men’s ceremonial clubhouses. The Namau people of the Purari River Delta used them during funerals of important men and called them imunu viki ("weeping spirits").

Artist

Unknown

Date

late 19th century

Medium

wood, lime

Culture

Papua New Guinean

Department

Musical Instruments

Credit line

The Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments, 1889