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8.9: Biwat Sacred Flute Stoppers

  • Page ID
    359692

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    A carved wooden figure with a stylized face and long, braided hair, set against a dark background.

    Artist: Unknown
    Medium: Carved wood
    Art Historical Time Period: 19th–20th century, Papua New Guinea

    Biwat sacred flute stoppers are carved wooden figures used by the Biwat people of Papua New Guinea to seal the ends of sacred flutes. These figures often depict ancestral spirits or mythological beings.

    Biwat sacred flute stoppers are important to their culture as they are integral to the spiritual and ceremonial practices of the Biwat people. They reflect the community's beliefs and artistic traditions. Biwat sacred flute stoppers are also important to world culture as they highlight the role of music and ritual in indigenous societies. Understanding Biwat sacred flute stoppers helps students appreciate the cultural significance of musical instruments and the ways in which they connect people to their spiritual heritage.

    Student Authors

    • Ana Cortez ’24 and Eduardo Jimenez ’22

    References and Image Attribution

    • Kaufmann, Christian. New Guinea Art: Masterpieces from the Jolika Collection of Marcia and John Friede. Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, 2005.
    • Newton, Douglas. Art Styles of the Papuan Gulf. The Museum of Primitive Art, 1961.
    • Image: “WLA metmuseum Flute Stopper New Guinea” via Wikimedia Commons by shooting_brooklyn, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.5 Generic. Modified from original.

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