Magalan carving

3D Model

This malagan carving was created in New Ireland Province, Papua New Guinea. It is one of two, which were sent back to Kirkwall Museum by John Muir from North Ronaldsay. A project in 2020-21 saw the conservation and re-display of the carvings in Stromness Museum.

The carvings are part of an elaborate set of funerary customs in New Ireland Province. Malagan ceremonies still take place today, but only on the island of Tabar. The copyright to the designs on the carvings is owned by the person who comissioned the carving for their deceased relative and they can’t be replicated by another clan. Once the carvings are revealed at the malagan ceremony, they are disposed of, left to rot or are burned. After colonial contact with New Ireland the carvings began to be sold to Western seafarers. We believe that may be how John Muir of North Ronaldsay came to have the carvings.

Note voids behind waist band, which can be seen when model is tilted.

Model produced by Dr Hugo Anderson-Whymark