Accession No
E 1910.66
Description
Small oval frigate bird-shaped bowl - one end with head (eyes inlaid with thin white shell bead) and tail on the other. Wings carved in low relief along the rim. Resting on a pedestal carved in the shape of a shark on its back, its tail joining that of the bird. Used by men to eat the first fruit of the garden after the circumcision ceremony.
Place
Oceania; Melanesia; Solomon Islands; Makira [San Cristobal]
Period
Source
Drew, Frederic Henry (Rev.) [collector and donor]
Department
Anth
Reference Numbers
E 1910.66; MAA: Z 6009; 1910.1420 [from catalogue card - NOT accession number / NOT AR number / NOT BB number]; AR 1910.337
Cultural Affliation
Material
Wood; Shell
Local Term
Measurements
Events
Context (Display)
An old display label found in the archives (OA2/15/9) reads: ‘CIRCUMCISION BOWL / USED BY MEN ONLY / IN EATING FIRST FRUITS / OF GARDEN AFTER CEREMONY. / DREW COLL. / Z,6009'.
Event Date
Author: Lucie Carreau
Description (Physical description)
On catalogue card: 'Circumcisional bowl used by men only for eating first fruits of the garden after the ceremony'.
Event Date
Author: maa
Description (Physical description)
Small oval frigate bird-shaped bowl - one end with head (eyes inlaid with thin white shell bead) and tail on the other. Wings carved in low relief along the rim. Resting on a pedestal carved in the shape of a shark on its back, its tail joining that of the bird. Used by men to eat the first fruit of the garden after the circumcision ceremony.
Event Date 5/5/2015
Author: maa
Description (Labels & Markings)
Old label with blue rim glued on catalogue card reads: San Cristoval. Used at sacred feast, food made from first fruits of garden only eaten by men' [added in black pen:] '1910.142. Z 6009. Presd F.H. Drew'. Another label glued on the catalogue card reads: 'E 1910.1420. Ceremonial bowl, for first fruits of garden eaten by men only. San Cristoval. Solomon Is. 1909. F.H. Drew Esq.'
Event Date 5/5/2015
Author: maa
FM:268161
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