A Solomon Islands festive bowl

A Solomon Islands festive bowl, in the form of a bird with shell inlay, the underside with painted inventory label, 106.8cm long.

Provenance:

Rose Art Museum, Brandeis University, Helen S. Slosberg Collection of Oceanic Art Brandeis University, Waltham, 1975, Catalogue No. 20, Page 22

Ex: D'Alleva, Anne, "Art and Artifacts of Melanesia", Cambridge 1992:

The figural use of frigate bird motifs on feast bowls associated with the Bonito cult is common throughout the Eastern Solomons, where the presence of the birds over shoals of fish upon which the Bonito also feed is well known. The indigenous inhabitants associate the birds closely with the Bonito rituals and they ornament everything from ceremonial implements, canoes, shields and bowls like this fine, large example.

Bowls decorated in this style and with these materials were used in public rituals. The Star Harbour area includes southeastern San Christobal, Santa Ana, and Santa Catalina Islands.