Title
Flute stopper
Year/Period
Early-mid 20th century
Region
Tambanum, Papua New Guinea
Material
Technique
Dimension
Object size: 162.5 x 15 cm
Accession No.
W-0510
Collection of
Credit Line
Gift of Mr. A.C. Galstawn
Flutes were among the most sacred and important of all musical instruments. Sacred flutes were often made from hollow cylinders of bamboo and quite plainly decorated with shells and clay. It is played by blowing through a hole in the side of the instrument near the upper end. The tops of side-blown flutes were frequently sealed with ornamental flute stoppers to increase its significance. The figures on the stoppers are sometimes referred to as ‘children of the crocodile spirit’.
