MARQUESAN WARRIOR

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28801, 23 January 1959, Page 8

MARQUESAN WARRIOR

Figure Made For Museum

"The Press" Special Service

WELLINGTON, January 22 A life size figure of a Marquesan warrior—the Marquesans were once the most notorious cannibals in the Pacific—is nearing completion at the Dominion Museum. Wellington. By using special plaster casts of human feet, hands and head with the warrior regalia, Mr G. White of the museum staff, is producing a most realistic display. The most striking feature of the warrior is his large black headdress, made from the tail feathers of the Marquesan cock. The headdress is nearly two* feet high and encircles the face to the chin. The body is bare except for tattooing, a waist skirt and epaulettes made from black human hair. The epaulettes have been ingeniously permanently waved. They are wound on sticks and placed in the earth steam oven. When removed, they keep their shape. Large ivory earplugs made from the .teeth of sperm whales will hang from the warrior’s ears. Tattooing the model will be the next job for, Mr White. This requires* ah exacting skill as Marquesan warriors had their entire bodies tattooed. To make the figure realistic Mr White will copy authentic line drawings.

Halswell’s £62,000

Loan Application

The Halswell County Council's application to the Local Authority Loans Board for permission to raise a. nf £62,000 for a l.enlor women’. eo^ e^g “ Tiary, it /ening's