Post #688320 by MadDogMike on Thu, Aug 1, 2013 8:55 PM

Dale, Kinny, & Jon - thank you so much.

Here is the "Ndaokus" Trophy Skull Mug for the Cannibal Art Swap which ends next week.

The Asmat people of Papua New Guinea collected 2 types of skulls; the “Ndambirkus” or ancestral skull and the "Ndaokus" of trophy skull. The ancestral skulls were treated with respect and were carried or worn for protection, they were often used as a headrest or pillow so the protection would extend while sleeping. They had the lower jaw attached with twine. The trophy skulls were from vanquished enemies and were kept in the men's house, they had a hole in the side of the skull where the brain was removed and eaten. The lower jaw was removed from the skull and given to the women to wear as a necklace. It was considered the ultimate insult and humiliation to have your jawbone worn as a necklace!

This mug was inspired by PopTiki's Headhunter Chalice and is made from a slipcast skull with a ceramic "bamboo" pole extending up through the skull. There is a bat skull mounted on the back of the lid, the straw hole is inside the bamboo pole. Hanging from the back is a polymer clay talon with guinea fowl feathers and ceramic molar, incisor, and claw. The base is made from a slab of Eucalyptus wood coated with 2 part epoxy resin and a polymer clay rhinoceros beetle. The base had a large dowel on it which goes inside of the bamboo pole to secure the mug to the base. The mug lifts off the base like a chalice and the pole serves as a handle but you can't get too far from the base as the mug won't stand on it's own

Over the past year I have sent out MadDog birthday cards to several TC folks. A new card has been made and the old one is being retired, thought I would share it with you.

Taken at the Mermaid Bar of Mojave Oasis