Squatting figure · Western Solomon Islands, Bougainville or Buka islands · ID: 3037651
Dutch Private Collection
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).
The object Squatting figure with the object ID 3037651 was last part of the auction 78th tribal art auction at October 18, 2014 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 48 achieved a sales price of EUR 3,000.
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Comparing literature
Poignant, Roslyn, Ozeanische Mythologie, Wiesbaden o.J. (~1967), p. 83 Conru, Kevin, Solomon Islands Art, Milan 2008, p. 24, ill. 9