Africa, Oceana and the Americas

Monica Vazquez

HUA 101.1301

Professor Harmon

September 27, 2013

Metropolitan Museum of the Arts: Africa, Oceana, and the Americas

     The Gable Ornament originates from the Big Nambas people, who originate from the northwest of the Malakula Island, a part of Oceana in the mid-20^th century. The Gable Ornament is made out of fern wood, just over three feet in length and a foot in width. This ornament is called “P’naret” to the Big Nambas people. These intriguing ornaments made of wood were kept in the men’s ceremonial houses. They were put there believing that these sculptures of the ancestors could punish them through supernatural forces if one of the men entering or leaving the ceremonial house had broken or violated one of their laws. These wooden ornaments are usually carved with the faces of the founders of the ceremonial houses. Although the carvings represented the founders the faces are always drawn in a disproportionate way. The nostrils are carved to take up a large portion of the carving. The lips are drawn very low at the end of the sculpture leaving little to no space for the chin. The eyes are small and are being covered by the big and uneven cheekbones, one to be larger than and rounder than the other.

     In the Mesoamerican collection the head of the rain god comes from the Mayan-Toltec belief in the 10^th and 11^th century. The Yucatan peninsula was native land of the Mayans, and Tlaloc was the representation of the rain god, who is important if the country of Mexico and the Mayan-Toltec area.  The head is made of limestone, carved out to represent a male figure with detailed features. The eyes are drawn slightly bigger than normal with what appears to be facial jewelry around the eyes, forehead, and his ears. His teeth are also drawn very neatly showing just the top of his teeth with his mouth slightly opened. Although the nose appears to be slightly damaged, the head of the rain god Tlaloc appears to be remain in good condition after so many years.

The Rain God Tlaloc

                

                              The Gable Ornament