Malangan sculpture; New Ireland, Bismarck Archipelago, 19th century.

Malangan sculpture; New Ireland, Bismarck Archipelago, 19th century.
Wood with colored pigments and shell cover.
Publication: Veranneman, Visie & Passie, ed. Lannoo NV, Tielt, 2002, p.38.
Provenance: Former Veranneman collection, Belgium.
Measurements: 145 cm (height).
Full body male effigy carved in wood with colored pigments and shells used as eyes. The Malaga carvings are wood carvings created exclusively for Malaga ceremonies. Traditionally they were burned or placed in a cave to rot at the end of the act; nowadays, most of them are preserved, since the tradition of carving is known only to a few. Contemporary masters of the Malagan form include Michael Homerang of the village of Madina, Ben Sisia of the village of Libba (northern New Ireland), and Edward and Mathew Salle of the village of Lava (Tatau, Tabar Islands, New Ireland).
Malaga Culture is the general term for the traditional culture of the area where Malaga ceremonies are held, which covers much of the province of Northern New Ireland. There are many other ceremonies and customary practices within this large and complex cultural system. The word malagan comes from the Nalik language of northern New Ireland. Alternative spellings are malangan and malanggan. Malagan ceremonies (are large and intricate traditional cultural events that take place in parts of the New Ireland province of Papua New Guinea. The word malagan designates the wood carvings prepared for the ceremonies and a whole system of traditional culture.