Bark Basket (Tunga)

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Bark Basket (Tunga)

Artist: Unknown

Place made:Northern Territory, Australia

General region:Oceania

Culture: Tiwi language group

Date: 2004

Medium: Bark with natural ochre pigments

Dimensions:

h. 20 1/2 in. (52.1 cm); w. 14 3/4 in. (37.5 cm); d. 10 in. (25.4 cm)

Credit Line: San Antonio Museum of Art, gift of the Lam Family

Object number: 2016.14.34

Provenance: May Lam and Dr. Dorothy Lam, by gift to the San Antonio Museum of Art, 2016

Label Text

The bark basket (tunga) is one of the many objects used in the Pukumani mortuary ceremony. The decorated baskets, containing offerings such as food, are brought to the ceremony by relatives. At the close of the ceremony, the baskets, once emptied, are turned over and placed atop the Pukumani poles.

Bark baskets are constructed of eucalyptus bark that has been peeled from the trunk of the tree, folded in half, and stitched down the sides. The lines and dots on this bark basket are virtually identical to those painted on grave poles and the bodies of mourners during the ceremony.

(Exhibition label, 2017)

Not on view

In Collection(s)

Oceanic Art

The San Antonio Museum of Art is in the process of digitizing its permanent collection. This electronic record was created from historic documentation that does not necessarily reflect SAMA's complete or current knowledge about the object. Review and updating of such records is ongoing.

Artwork

Bark Basket (Tunga)

Bark Basket (Tunga)