Palm Spathe

The spathe is the woody part of a palm tree that surrounds the flower.  Cultures in tropical areas use this part of the tree for a variety of purposes.

This palm spathe is from Saragum Village in the East Sepik River Province of Papua New Guinea.  It features an image of a sitting male figure.  Painted palm spathes of this type are used to decorate the front of a men’s house, also known as Haus Tambaran, a building where the men of the village negotiate with the spirit world to assure the villagers’ security and good fortune.

Other objects from Papua New Guinea that have been featured for Artifact of the Month include a flute, a yam mask, a dog tooth necklace, a mud mask, and a cassowary bone dagger.