When most of us think of Kuwait, we might think of oil and deserts. But did you know that Kuwait used to boast of a thriving pearl diving business? Kuwait is situated on the Persian Golf, and for thousands of years, pearl divers have descended […]
All posts tagged: tradition
Headhunter Knife – The Philippines
Not actually having cut off someone’s head, this knife is the festive copy of ones that were meant for just that! In the 1970’s, anthropologist Renato Rosaldo did longterm fieldwork among the Ilongot headhunters of the Philippines, trying to understand the urge these people would occasionally feel to […]
In Other Shoes – Greek Children’s Shoes
These shoes immediately put a smile on my face! So festive! “Greek Children’s shoes. Given to me on January 24th 1958 by dr. H. Hadjissarantos, Athens. In Greek they are called “tsarouchia”. They are made from hard leather, but do not have soles. Black leather […]
In Other Shoes – Japanese Bast Sandals
Søren L. Tuxen, our shoe collector, did more than just collect the shoes. His passion for shoes powered a curiosity that led him to do extensive research on many of the shoes he collected. Having bought these sandals along from a Copenhagen antiques salesman, along […]
In Other Shoes – Chinese foot binding shoes
Did you know that the Chinese tradition of foot binding dates all the way back to the late 13th century? Did you then also know that the last factory producing the so-called lotus shoes to fit the tiny feet didn’t close down until 1999? “Chinese […]
Pwoom Itok Mask – DR Congo
By its name alone, you get the impression of something powerful. Pwoom itok! With characteristic cone-shaped eyes with holes around the sides, colourful decorations, a crown of feathers, and a slightly anticipating facial expression, the mask is meant to be worn by a dancer, resembling an old, wise man, […]
Bisj Poles – Papua New Guinea
You might be familiar with the colourful totem poles of Native Americans, with carved out masks and animals – but have you ever seen a Papua New Guinean bisj pole like the ones here? Collected by Aksel Bojsen-Møller in 1955, these poles tell the story of an old […]
Ancestor Skull – Papua New Guinea
Quite frankly, we were a little spooked by this item! Even more so when we discovered that beneath the layers of clay and paint, is the real human skull of a specifically important ancestor of the Sepik province in Papua New Guinea. According to Jens […]
ethnographica 