Carved wooden figures in front of a Morung

B&W photographic print. 'Part of a huge, horizontal, carved piece of wood under the eaves of the entrance. On it is carved in high relief a copulating couple, squatting down - cut away entirely from the wood except at the base. This illustrates the belief, common among many Naga tribes, of the c...

Full description


Date(s) of creation: 22 October 1923
Level: Item
Format: Archive           
Main author: Mills; James Philip (1890-1960); colonial administrator and anthropologist
URL: http://digital.soas.ac.uk/LOAA004344
URL Description: Digital version available online at SOAS Digital Collections

Summary: B&W photographic print. 'Part of a huge, horizontal, carved piece of wood under the eaves of the entrance. On it is carved in high relief a copulating couple, squatting down - cut away entirely from the wood except at the base. This illustrates the belief, common among many Naga tribes, of the connection between sex and the fertility of the community - that of its crops as well as the inhabitants.'
Main author: Mills; James Philip (1890-1960); colonial administrator and anthropologist
Extent: 1 photograph
Note: Dormitories
Sex in art
Wood sculpture
Naga (South Asian people)
Ethnic group: Naga
Ethnic group: Konyak Naga
Chui is alternately spelled Chi
Access status: Open
Copyright: Copyright held by J.P. Mills
Language: No linguistic content
Scripts: Unwritten
Physical description: 12 x 7 cm
Copies: Digital version available online at SOAS Digital Collections
Format: Archive