Sacred Pig's Lower Mandible - Vanuatu - First Half Of The 20th Century

Sacred Pig's Lower Mandible
Vanuatu
First half of the 20th century
Bone, tooth
H. 8.9 ; L 23.5 ; W 14 cm
(restaured) 

Pig's jaw with two tusks in three quarters of a circle.

These pigs were bred to have their tusks grow artificially into a circle.
The more the tusks grew into a circle, the more sacred the pig was considered to be.

The national emblem of Vanuatu depicts a warrior chief with a circle of curved teeth behind him.
This symbol indicates the importance of "toothed pigs" to this country; the curved tusks are linked to the image of the chief and social status.

Art. 3284

Text and photos © FCP CORIDON