Accession No

E 1907.579


Description

Wari hau. Catalogue card 1: Chief's mace. It is elaborately inlaid with etched rectangles of pearl shell. A double human face is carved at the top in wood. Catalogue card 2: Chief's mace. Mother of pearl inlay. Double headed. 2 holes.


Place

Oceania; Melanesia; Solomon Islands; Malaita Province; Malaita


Period


Source

Stevens Sale [purchase]; Bevan, Anthony Ashley (Prof.) [donor]


Department

Anth


Reference Numbers

E 1907.579; MAA: Z 10825


Cultural Affliation


Material

Wood; Shell; Pigment; Fibre; Plant


Local Term

fou'atoleeleo; hau aano rereo


Measurements

30mm x 397mm x 50mm


Events

Context (CMS Context)
Unsure which E number is correct, both appear on a catalogue card.
Event Date 12/5/2014
Author: Remke van der Velden


Context (CMS Context)
Note on the reverse of catalogue card 1: (Information from DAvid Akin, 1983) 'acc. No.s Z 10825 and Z 10826: These are fou'atoleeleo (Kwaio term). They are probably from 'Are'are where they are called hau aano rereo. For information on these, I refer you to my article on them in Pacific Arts Newsletter 14, 1982. Also an article by Daniel de Coppet: 'First exchange, Double Illusion' in Journal of the Cultural Asscn of the Solomon Is., Vol 5, 1977, where the symbolism of heads carved on these is discussed. The shell inlay is chambered nautilus. The red binding is usually taka, the skin of a coconut pal. The waxy skin is dyed red with the root of geru tree (Morinda Citrifolia) by boiling scrapings of the root in a bamboo with the taka. Other plants may be boiled with it to help the colour set. Plaiting over top of knob is prob. arigwa. This is taken from the inner part of the stem of the plant. This diamond design is called lodo'efuu in Kwaio. Two fou'atoleeleo are illustrated in Grass Roots Art of the Sol. Is., Pacific Publns., N.Y., 1978. A third is in the Solomon Is. Museum.'
Event Date 12/5/2014
Author: Remke van der Velden


Context (CMS Context)
Small label attached to catalogue card 1 reads: 'Z 10825 Chief's mace/Malaita/Islands./s, London, May 1907)./Bevan, 1907.' It also states the object was featured in the Centenary Exhibition.
Event Date 12/5/2014
Author: Remke van der Velden


Context (CMS Context)
Exhibited: on display in the Solomon Islands case (13), Maudslay Hall, from 1990 onwards.
Event Date 12/5/2014
Author: maa


Description (CMS Description)
Catalogue card 1: Chief's mace. It is elaborately inlaid with etched rectangles of pearl shell. A double human face is carved at the top in wood. Catalogue card 2: Chief's mace. Mother of pearl inlay. Double headed. 2 holes.
Event Date 12/5/2014
Author: maa


Context (CMS Context)
An old display label found in the archives (OA2/15/9) reads: ‘Z10825 / CHIEF'S MACE'.
Event Date 27/10/2016
Author: Lucie Carreau


FM:267648

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