Two forms of skull shrines, both called agiba, were collected in the Bamu and Kerewa regions of the western Papuan Gulf. This one is said to have been collected in the Bamu river area. One type is larger and associated with headhunting and warfare. The second type, like the one here, was smaller and was related to hunting in general. This later type had skulls of birds and small animals suspended from the vertical hooks. This example was probably made in the late 19th century and is similar in style to agiba collected in the early 20th century by A.C. Haddon and later by Paul Wirz.

Provenance:
Richard Aldridge, Perth 2010
Collected by George Craig 1960s

Publishing History:
Michael Hamson. Red Eye of the Sun: The Art of the Papuan Gulf. Palos Verdes Estates, CA.: Michael Hamson Oceanic Art, 2010: 52-53 (figure 13).