This file is part of the following reference: Lamothe, Marie Elise Lorraine (2008) Weevils, mats, and New Guinea. PhD thesis, James Cook University. Access to this file is available from: http://eprints.jcu.edu.au/8187 Weevils, Mats, and New Guinea A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY at James Cook University by Marie Elise Lorraine Lamothe B.Sc.For. (UNB, Canada), M.Sc.Nat.Res. (UNE), Ass.Dip.Vis.Arts (ANU) 2008 School of Creative Arts Statement of Access I, the undersigned, author of this work, understand that James Cook University will make this thesis available for use within the University Library, via the Australian Digital Theses network, for use elsewhere. I understand that, as an unpublished work, a thesis has significant protection under the Copyright Act and; I do not wish to place any further restriction on access to this work. Marie Elise Lorraine Lamothe Date ii Electronic Copy I, the undersigned, the author of this work, declare that the electronic copy of this thesis provided to the James Cook University Library is an accurate copy of the print thesis submitted, within the limits of technology available. Marie Elise Lorraine Lamothe Date iii Statement of Sources Declaration I declare that this thesis is my own work and has not been submitted in any form for another degree or diploma at any university or other institution of tertiary education. Information derived from the unpublished or published work of others has been acknowledged in the text and a list of references is given. Marie Elise Lorraine Lamothe Date iv Declaration of Ethics The research presented and reported in this thesis was conducted within the guidelines for research ethics outlined in the National Statement on Ethics Conduct in Research Involving Human (1999), the Joint NHMRC/AVCC Statement and Guidelines on Research Practice (1997), the James Cook University Policy on Experimentation Ethics, Standard Practices and Guidelines (2001), and the James Cook University Statement and Guidelines on Research Practice (2001). The proposed research methodology received clearance from the James Cook University Experimentation Ethics Review Committee (approval number H 1827). Marie Elise Lorraine Lamothe Date v Statement on the contribution of others including financial and editorial help Support for the completion of the thesis and practice was obtained via the following sources: Fees: Study was supported by James Cook University. Supervision: Supervision was overseen by Professor Diana Davis – Principal Supervisor Dr. James Brown – Associate Supervisor Any other assistance: Financial assistance was provided by James Cook University to attend the conference Clothing the Pacific, held in London, England, June 23-25, 2003. Professor Rosamund Thorpe ably provided assistance for final hurdles. Academic assistance was provided by Drs. Hartmut and Susanne Hartmut, especially in regard to Morobean languages and anthropology as well as the Lutheran missionary presence in Morobe Province. Dr. Janos Gyarmati of the Hungarian Museum of Ethnography not only found objects for me but also provided invaluable assistance in cracking the Hungarian language barrier. Summer Institute of Linguistics bible translators helped me with verifications of spellings and meanings of words in local languages. Dr. Bob Bugenhagen and his wife Salme helped with the Yaga words but also provided assistance in Yaga Settlement (and in Ukarumpa when I got stranded). Bill and Diane Eckerman commented on the words I collected in Bukaua. vi Acknowledgements There are always many people to thank at the conclusion of such a major piece of work. Although I single out several individuals there are also many others who have been there offering general encouragement. Firstly I would like to thank my friends Drs. Susanne and Hartmut Holzknecht. It was Susanne who encouraged me to make the initial Weevil Rugs of New Guinea. Both she and Hartmut provided immeasurable friendship over the long period of my studies. At James Cook University I would like to single out the immeasurable assistance of my supervisors, Professor Diana Davis and Dr. James Brown. Dr. Brown made valuable contributions to the theoretical and practical aspects of my studio practice. Professor Davis visited me in Nepal, provided a consultation in Singapore and continued supervision throughout the period of my candidature. She was always there for me, and I am profoundly aware of the magnitude of her input. The Evangelical Lutheran Churches of Germany, Australia and America provided assistance in my search for primary source material. In Germany thanks are due to: the Reverend Drs. Hermann Vorlander (Director of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bayern) and Traugott Farnbacher for allowing me to access their archives and providing accommodation at church headquarters; Pastor Manfred Keitel (Emeritus), the Curator of the Archives in Neuendettelsau, for his invaluable help; Herr Fischer and his wife who made our stay most comfortable. In Australia I thank the Archivist, Mr. Lyall Kupke but also Dr. Myra Oster who assisted while I was searching those archives. In America I thank the Reference Archivist Mr. Joel Thoreson. I visited several museums in the course of my research. In England I visited the Cambridge Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology as well as the Pitt Rivers Museum at Oxford University. In the first instance I thank Dr. Anita Herle for allowing me access to the collection and Ms. Tabitha Cadbury for assisting me in my work. At the Pitt Rivers Museum I was ably assisted by Ms. Zena McGreevy. With the permission of Dr. Zoltan Fejos, Director in Chief, I visited the Hungarian Museum of Ethnography. In Australia I visited the Louise Flierl Museum in Hahndorf courtesy of Mr. Flierl. In Papua New Guinea, Mr. Eroi facilitated my visit to the Papua New Guinea vii National Museum and Art Gallery where Sebastian helped with locating the mats in which I was interested. Although I did not visit them, I also contacted many other museums in my search for Morobean mats. I met unqualified kindness from all the curators with whom I corresponded including Drs. Fuli Pereira (Auckland Museum), Anita Herle (Cambridge University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology), John E. Terrell (Field Museum), Mrs. Tarisi Sorovoi-Vunidilio (Museum of New Zealand), Bente Wolff (National Museum of Denmark), Andrew Moutu (PNG National Museum and Art Gallery), Leslie M. Freund and Joan Knudsen (Phoebe Apperson Hearst Museum of Anthropology), Jeremy Coote (Pitt Rivers Museum), Robert Welsh, Janos Gyarmati (Hungarian Museum of Ethnography), Ingrid Heerman (Linden Museum Stuttgart Staatliche Museum fur volkerkunde), Susie Davies (Macleay Museum), Catharine Thorpe (Monash University), Mr. Andreas Bucher (Museum fur Volkerkunde unde Schwesizeerisches Museum fur Volkerkunde Basel; Museum der Kulturen Basel), Barry Craig and Sylvia Ohnemus (Ubersee Museum). I visited as well the Textile Museum of Canada where I was permitted to study their collection of hooked mats and I thank the Curator, Ms Roxanne Shaughnessy, for providing this opportunity. I would not have been able to undertake this project in Papua New Guinea without the proper and relevant research permits. For this, and all the help he provided when my backpacks were stolen, I thank Jim Robins. In Papua New Guinea I received the assistance of many people, old friends and new. Firstly I would like to thank all the villagers in the communities where I conducted field research. They kindly welcomed me and offered generous hospitality. I would like to particularly thank the women who shared not only their skills and knowledge with me but also their joy in the world: Galiki Peter, Galiki Jonas, Kobec Dabuyŋanoo, Miream Donga and Siwon Janamdangeo in Malesiga, Gebing, Leah Alung, Miti Tuling, Mondo Tisam, Saking Christian, Tamaris Lini, Tita Amos and Yaeng Nathan of Bukaua (including Busong) and Gida Dive, Helen Ligiman, Jopa Abur, Malel, Malua Vogana, Pitum Taiwaluo, Sagwale Sukey, Shirley Abila and Tamaris Sakail of Yaga Settlement. Two men also acted as informants: Malum Kasae of Malesiga and Donald Kobak of Yaga Settlement. Many people extended the hospitality of their homes to me and for this I express sincere thanks. Siwon and Malum of Malesiga were my first and main hosts and informants; I could not have asked for a better and nicer couple. In Bukaua, Titi and Erika Solomon took me in. Titi worked especially hard to make my research viii successful. In the Yaga community on Umboi, I visited twice, staying with Buai (Hagar) on my first visit and then with Monica Day (in the absence of Colin). Everyone opened their doors to this strange woman asking seemingly bizarre questions; they were very generous to me. I was supported indirectly throughout my research period by two important groups of people - the textile group to which I belong on the Atherton Tablelands and the visual arts post-graduate students of James Cook University Cairns campus. While we have been away from Lake Eacham, Chris Lucas looked after our house…and bailed me out when I ran out of supplies or had forgotten to take critical measurements. She has also been studying fine arts and providing insights into arts theory and history. Thanks, Chris. My family in Canada gave me the foundations from which all my endeavours spring. How can one thank one‟s parents enough? It is matter of enduring sadness that my mother did not live to see her first baby succeed at this latest challenge. James Leech designed the catalogue, making my words and images look very good indeed. Thanks, James for being the design and computer genius that you are. And always - I thank for all his support, under sometimes trying circumstances, my husband Frans Arentz. He provided the necessary funding for all field work. In the final instance he provided editorial input. He also kept me going when discouragement set in. Thank you always, Frans.