Add to Favorites
Each baby carrier (ba') is individually created for a child by the members of its family. Even if the ba' itself, i.e. the wooden seat and rattan frame were used already for an older sibling or cousin, the most important part of the baby carrier, is the bead work piece (aban) at the back and the objects hanging from the sides of the carrier like pieces of clam shell, snail shell, animal teeth, dried roots and heirloom beads, are made, gathered and individually combined for every new child. As it takes time to purchase the seed beads and to make the aban it is begun months before the birth of the baby and is usually done by elderly experienced women like the great aunts or the two grandmothers. The motif chosen for the aban is in accordance with the social status of the child, but it is also supposed to be attractive to the infant soul so that it will stay nearby. The various objects hung on the ba' and the noises they make will repel evil spirits that might want to take the soul away. These items are heirloom goods that are not available for sale but must be borrowed from their current custodians. Through their use on the ba' they confirm the baby as a new member of the group and define the position of those who contribute these goods and their position to the ancestors. Thus the ba' is not only a beautiful object and a work of art but a visible sign of traditional values and an indicator of relationships within the extended family of the baby.
Map Of Museums
SEE ALL MASTERPIECES
OF THIS MUSEUM