libation stick

Libation stick, a long rectangular piece of wood decorated with stained design of diamonds. On top of the stick stand two carved bears with painted features, touching noses. (Previously identified as a 'Moustache lifter'). Neg. no. 5582.

Bears are the most sacred beings in the Ainu universe. The Ainu believe that the bear looks after their general welfare and ensures the future supply of more bears and other animals for food. Only males are allowed to carve religious objects such as this to be used as sacred offerings.This object has also been identified as a moustache lifter: although these objects were primarily used to offer drops of liquor to the gods before drinking it, they were afterwards used to keep the moustache out of the drink.

object
MUSEUM NUMBER
9.8.52/14
PLACE
COLLECTION
MEASUREMENTS
overall: 56 x 393 x 33 mm
MATERIAL/TECHNIQUE
wood; pigment
CATEGORY
Anthropology: Ethnography
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Collection Information

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