Australian National Maritime Museum Collection Donated through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program by Michael and Diane Kershaw
Job Kusu
Nath (Dugong hunting platform)
Maquette of a Nath (dugong hunting platform) by Job Kusu. The platform is made of a wooden slab atop crossed wooden poles that are attached with bees wax and bush rope.
Hunting dugong from the Nath ceased in the late 1940s. It was only done occasionally and mainly for ceremonial and medicinal purposes.
The dugong hunting process is steeped in ceremony and rituals which included special preparations by the hunter and particular observances by his wife and children. This Nath by by Job Kusu is a spiritual and cultural interpretation of Men's Practices from the Torres Strait.
- Object number 00055704
- Date2011
- Credit Australian National Maritime Museum Collection Donated through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program by Michael and Diane Kershaw
- DimensionsOverall: 665 × 675 × 930 mm
- Medium Thul wood, bees wax, bush rope, mangrove sap
- ManufacturedBadu Island
- Related placeTorres Strait