Canoe bow figure
nguzunguzu
This canoe bow figure was collected in the course of the Austrian Pacific Expedition in the Solomon Islands. This type of figure was mounted at the front of war canoes, so it would stay just above the water surface to protect those inside the canoe from various threats, such as storms, dangerous waters, or water spirits. The deep eyes and long ears are decorated with mother-of-pearl shell inlays.
This canoe bow figure was collected in the course of the Austrian Pacific Expedition in the Solomon Islands. This type of figure was mounted at the front of war canoes, so it would stay just above the water surface to protect those inside the canoe from various threats, such as storms, dangerous waters, or water spirits. The deep eyes and long ears are decorated with mother-of-pearl shell inlays.
Collection:
Heinrich Freiherr Foullon-Norbeek (1850 - 1896) DNB
Reference/Collector:
S.M.S. Albatros
Collector:
k.u.k. Kriegsmarine, Pola
Time:
1896
Entry Date:
1923
Object Name
Canoe bow figure
Material/technology:
Wood, pigment, mother-of-pearl
Copyright
Weltmuseum Wien
Collection area
Oceania and Australia
Geography
Ozeanien/Melanesien/Salomonen
Invs.
118176