Malagan carvings are intricate wooden sculptures created in the New Ireland province of Papua New Guinea for use in rituals that memorialize the dead. Clans own specific designs, and an artist commissioned to make a malagan carving can only work the designs owned by the patron’s clan. Traditionally the carvings were destroyed at the end of the event, but most are now retained.  Also spelled malangan and malanggan. Web resource here. Video here.

Display of malagan carvings. New Ireland Province, Papua New Guinea. 1930. Photo: Felix Speiser.