Accession No
1921.565.40
Description
Wooden head used as a canoe prow decoration. Prognathous features but much more angular than other such figures in MAA's collection. Eyes inlaid with two oval pieces of nautilus shell. They themselves used to be inlaid in the centre. Ears forming two perforated circles on the side of the head. Lines that are usually inlaid along the jaw bone, chin, under the eyes and along the eyebrows are here carved or simply incised. Some incised lines are decorated with red pigments. Hand clasped under the chin. Incisions on the upper and lower arms may suggest arm ornaments. Carved with a lug at the back.
Place
Oceania; Melanesia; Solomon Islands
Period
Source
Bourne, Edmond [Brother] [field collector and donor]
Department
Anth
Reference Numbers
1921.565.40
Cultural Affliation
Material
Wood; Shell; Pigment
Local Term
Measurements
90mm x 200mm
Events
Description (Physical description)
Catalogue card for 1921.565.40-42: 'Three carved canoe ('Wind god') figure heads (2 with pearl inlay)'.
Event Date 1921
Author: maa
Description (Physical description)
Wooden head used as a canoe prow decoration. Prognathous features but much more angular than other such figures in MAA's collection. Eyes inlaid with two oval pieces of nautilus shell. They themselves used to be inlaid in the centre. Ears forming two perforated circles on the side of the head. Lines that are usually inlaid along the jaw bone, chin, under the eyes and along the eyebrows are here carved or simply incised. Some incised lines are decorated with red pigments. Hand clasped under the chin. Incisions on the upper and lower arms may suggest arm ornaments. Carved with a lug at the back.
Event Date 1/4/2015
Author: maa
Context (References)
Illustrated in Lucie Carreau. 2016. Collections from the Solomon Islands. Cambridge: Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. https://doi.org/10.17863/CAM.13275, p.33.
Event Date 2016
Author: Lucie Carreau
FM:264856
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