III
The Mortuary Economy
DATA — 07 / 12
The takeaway
A carving is finished only when it is
burned
.
Malagan figures destroyed after the feast
94
%
+18 pts vs. 1880s
Surveyed across 412 documented northern New Ireland mortuary rites.
What became of each carving
Burned or left to rot
94%
Sold to collectors
5%
Kept by the clan
1%
This is the
Malagan Carving
design system, applied by
Curio Design
— a design-style library for AI agents. Full Malagan Carving guide →
designbycurio.com/learn/png-malagan-new-ireland-carving