21 Masterworks from the Greater Pacific Rim at Weltmuseum Wien
21 Masterworks from the Greater Pacific Rim at Weltmuseum Wien
Curated by Steven G. Alpert
For March's final feature, Art of the Ancestors visits the Weltmuseum Wien in Austria. This venerable institution was under renovation from 2014 until being reopened and rebranded under its present name in 2017.
Displayed here is a curated array of masterworks from Weltmuseum's estimable collection of ethnographic art. This panorama of Pacific Rim material begins with rare works from Insular Southeast Asia, followed by Oceanic, Polynesian and Northwest Coast masterpieces that include items collected by Captain Cook from Tonga, Hawaii and Nootka Sound on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. The Mesoamerican material presents us with iconic items, including several examples of fantastic feather work, that were among some of the earliest New World cultural items to reach Europe. The feature concludes its' impressive geographical sweep by returning to Siberia in Asia.
1
Javanese Figure | Wayang Klitik
This artifact is known to have been incorporated into the kunstkammer of Emperor Rudolf that was assembled between 1607 and 1611.
It is a masterful Javanese wayang klitik puppet of Yudhistra, the eldest of the 5 Pandavas from the Hindu epic the Mahabharata.
Date:
16th Century
Collection:
Insular Southeast Asia
2
Batik Cloth | Kain Panjang | Cirebon, Java
Hand drawn batik sarong on cotton from North Coast Java. Collected in 1883.
Inventory #:
17985
Date:
Mid-19th Century
Collection:
Insular Southeast Asia
3
Balinese Sculpture | Singa Ambara Raja
Protective figure of a royal mythical beast from Bali, Indonesia.
Inventory #:
130570
Date:
19th Century
Collection:
Insular Southeast Asia
4
Nias Forked Ancestor Figure | Adü Horo
Wooden forked ancestor figure from Nias, Indonesia. Collected before 1893.
Inventory #:
104738
Date:
Before 1893
Collection:
Insular Southeast Asia
5
Batak Medicine Horn | Naga Morsarang
Datu's medicine horn container, wood, buffalo horn and twined cordage.
Toba Batak people. North Sumatra, Indonesia. Accessioned in 1914.
Inventory #:
90884
Date:
19th Century
Collection:
Insular Southeast Asia
6
Moluccan Poreka Banner | Uplera Haire, Kairenanu
Large banner or flag that was flown to announce a Porka festival on Leti in Eastern Indonesia. Made of cotton, imported wool trade cloth, hair, iron, leather, and mother of pearl inlays. Collected in 1893.
Inventory #:
106811
Date:
Before 1893
Collection:
Insular Southeast Asia
7
Moluccan Ancestor Figures | Luli & Lairliante
Shrine figure of holy first woman and a male ancestor figure from Leti, Eastern Indonesia. Acquired in 1892.
Inventory #:
106982 & 106988
Date:
1892
Collection:
Insular Southeast Asia
8
Papuan Neck Rest | Karik
Neckrest or wooden pillow in the form of a fleshy, fecund female figure. Sepik River, Papua New Guinea. Collected in 1907.
Inventory #:
76354
Date:
1907
Collection:
Oceania and Australia
9
New Britain Shield
Bold anthropomorphic shield decorated with colorful pigments, rattan bindings and feathers from New Britain.
Collected in 1884. Accessioned 1908.
Inventory #:
84288
Date:
1884
Collection:
Oceania and Australia
10
Huon Gulf House Post with the Image of a Woman named Jäbogenga
Collected in 1905.
Inventory #:
77110
Date:
1907
Collection:
Oceania and Australia
11
Solomon Islands Shield
Solomon Islands shield composed of wickerwork, wood, plaiting, ocher, thick pigmentation and inlaid mother of pearl.
Collected in 1858.
Inventory #:
3859
Date:
Around 1858
Collection:
Oceania and Australia
12
Ivory Female Figure | Ta Maka Fakamanatu Lei
Small female ivory figure fashioned from a whale's tooth from Tonga Islands.
Collected by Captain Cook in 1777.
Accessioned in 1806.
Inventory #:
146
Date:
Circa 1777
Collection:
Oceania and Australia
13
Feather Bust of a Hawaiian God | Ki’i Hulu Manu
Large feathered fiber effigy figure of a Hawaiian god. Collected by Captain Cook in 1789.
Inventory #:
202
Date:
1779
Collection:
Oceania and Australia
14
Hawaiian Ladle with Human Figure
Hawaiian ceremonial ladle with figurative handle.
Collected by Captain Cook in 1769.
Inventory #:
175
Date:
1778
Collection:
Oceania and Australia
15
Aztec Feather Headdress
Moctezuma II’s Headdress fashioned from sacred Quetzal feathers and gold.
Formerly in the Hapsburg's Ambras castle.
Date:
Early 16th Century
Collection:
North and Central America Collection
16
Mesoamerican Sacred Being | Ñuhu
A carved and inlaid sacred being.
Querétaro, Mexico.
Ex-collection of Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor.
Inventory #:
12585
Date:
Circa 1500
Collection:
North and Central America
17
Mesoamerican Feathered Shield with Coyote
Serpent and coyote feathered shield composed of gold plate, cane, leather, and rare feathers. Formerly in the Hapsburg's Ambras castle.
Inventory #:
43380
Date:
Circa 1500
Collection:
North and Central America
18
Mesoamerican Mirror Frame as Monkey’s Head
Obsidian glass mirror frame in the form of a monkey's head.
Puebla, Mexico.
Inventory #:
59253
Date:
Circa 1500
Collection:
North and Central America
19
Mesoamerican God of Music, Dance, & Games | Macuilxóchitl (5 Flowers)
Rare wooden rendering of the God of music, games, and dance.
Puebla, Mexico.
Inventory #:
59366
Date:
Circa 1500
Collection:
North and Central America
20
Nootka Mask
Ceremonial dancing mask.
Nootka people of Vancouver Island, British Columbia.
Collected in 1778.
Inventory #:
223
Date:
Before 1778
Collection:
North and Central America
21
Siberian Shaman’s Drum
Siberian shaman's drum with a carved effigy head on the reverse supported by two transporting spirit arms. Collected in 1931.
Inventory #:
123836
Date:
Before 1931
Collection:
North Africa, Middle East, Central Asia and Siberia
All artworks and images presented in this feature are the property of Weltmuseum Wien.
© KHM-Museumsverband