payback figure (figure)

Payback figure, one of a pair, male. These anthropomorphic standing figures are 'tourist' copies of a traditional 'payback' figure which was a stylized image of a person who had been killed; traditionally the figures were discarded when the death was avenged.
These hand made figures are created from a wooden structure padded and wrapped with leaves. The male figure is covered in white mud on the legs, which is traditionally worn during the mourning period, with black pigment on the upper body. He wears a loin cloth and bark belt, with elbow bracelets, bracer wristbands, and a pearlshell necklace. he carries a bow and arrows and a bag.