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Malagan Pole



Key Ideas:

Malagan Pole
Malagan Pole
19th century
Polychrome wood
Gift of the Morse Foundation

Key Ideas
Story
Background
Discussion Questions
Papua New Guinea (New Ireland)
  • The story of an old woman named Tsenabonpil (sane-ah-BONE-pill) and a monstrous pig explains the traditional social organization of the people of New Ireland.

  • The importance of the natural world to the people of New Ireland is evident in their traditional malagan (MAH-la-gan) festival, mythology, and art.

  • The composition, colors, and subject of this pole are all characteristics of northern New Ireland funerary sculptures called malagan.

Key Ideas Story Background Discussion Questions
 
 

 

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