water container (container (containers))

Black gourd water-carrier in a finely plaited sennit network.

Water Carrier, Kanak people, Grand Terre, New Caledonia, Southern Melanesia. The artistry embodied by this functional water carrier from the Kanak people of New Caledonia lies in the remarkable net enclosing the large bottle gourd within (Lagenaria siceraria). Plaited from the husk fibres of the invaluable coconut (Cocos nucifera), which literally makes human life possible in many parts of the Pacific, the immensely strong and decay-resistant cordage is interwoven in a single unbroken length around the gourd’s entire surface to create a spherical net of diamond-shaped areas, which is repeated nine times in every place. The two ends of the cord are also completely hidden, and so it seems that the weaving has no beginning or end. Gourd, coconut fibre. Late 19th Century. Formerly in the private collection of Mr. William Oldman.

object
MUSEUM NUMBER
5.8
PLACE
COLLECTION
MEASUREMENTS
overall: 355.6 mm
MATERIAL/TECHNIQUE
bottle gourd; coconut fibre
CATEGORY
Anthropology: Ethnography
SHAREABLE LINK

Continue exploring anthropology

Collection Information

These objects are only a part of our collections, of which there are more than 350,000 objects. This information comes from our collections database. Some of this is incomplete and there may be errors. This part of the website is also still under construction, so there may be some fields repeated or incorrectly formatted information.

The database retains language taken from historical documents to help research. Please note that some records may feature language and reflect systems of thinking that are outdated and offensive. The database also includes information on objects that are considered secret or sacred by some communities.

If you have any further information about objects in our collections, can suggest corrections to our information or if you see content requiring immediate action, please contact us: enquiry@horniman.ac.uk