Set on a wooden base, the circular hut features a central post surrounded by poles forming the main frame, and a double strapping around a straw frame, all tied together with dogfish hair ties.
The entrance, closed by a dogfish-hair curtain, is framed by two carved architraves.
On either side of the architraves is a decoration of dogfish hair and shells.
The floor is covered with braided matting.
The steeply-pitched conical roof is made of rafters and thatched with straw.
The simply sculpted ridge spire is entwined with a string of dogfish hair to which a shell is attached.

Early 20th century
An old label plus a handwritten inscription bear the same collection number on the base “2238”, a second label bears the number “50”.
Old ink inscription under the base: “Hubert Omei”, possibly the author of this scale model.

Provenance:
Former Stéphane Mangin collection
Former Alain Marini collection
Published and reproduced in L’Art ancestral des Kanak. Musée des Beaux Art de Chartres,
June 6-September 27, 2009. Exhibition catalog, page 5

A similar model, from the Berthoud collection, kept at the Musée de Douai but unfortunately destroyed during the bombardment of August 11, 1944, is reproduced on plate I in G-H. Luquet, 1926.

A second model, of similar size, collected during the Korrigane expedition, is kept at the Musée du Quai Branly (Inv 711938.36.8).