Squatting figure
Western Solomon Islands, Bougainville or Buka islands
sold
EUR 3,000
Provenance
Carts Collection, Hamburg, GermanyDutch Private Collection
Size
H: 45 cm
H: 17.7 inch
Description
wood, mat black patina, white pigment, the head crowned by a prominent nearly balloon-like coiffure, facial features accentuated with white pigment, angular projecting ears, figure and base carved from one piece, slightly dam.;
for a very similar figure (possibly by the same hand) see R. Poignant, ~1967, p. 83. The figure presumably represents a guardian or protective figure and was originally used as canoe ornament. The balloon-like coiffure is characteristic for figures coming from this region (compare K. Conru, 2008, p. 24, ill.9).