Malaita Island, Solomon Islands
Late 19th century
Wood, trade beads
Height: 13½ in (34 cm)
Provenance: Private collection, New Zealand
Figurative betel nut mortars from Malaita Island are among the least frequently encountered objects in Solomon Islands material culture, with only a small number of known examples documented in collections worldwide. Malaita produced comparatively little figurative sculpture relative to other islands in the Solomons, making objects of this type significant markers within the broader field. The mortar form — a carved figure supporting a pestle receptacle on the head — placed the human body in direct functional relationship with the betel nut preparation that structured daily social exchange across much of Melanesia.
The female figure is carved with a clearly articulated face, the eyes inset with small white trade beads and the neck adorned with a necklace of larger trade beads, both details intact. The mortar is supported on the figure's head, the full assembly well-resolved from the carved feet through the waisted shaft to the flared mortar cup above. The wood has developed a deep, glossy patina through decades of handling, the surface carrying the evidence of sustained use over a long period.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
Malaita Island, Solomon Islands
Late 19th century
Wood, trade beads
Height: 13½ in (34 cm)
Provenance: Private collection, New Zealand
Figurative betel nut mortars from Malaita Island are among the least frequently encountered objects in Solomon Islands material culture, with only a small number of known examples documented in collections worldwide. Malaita produced comparatively little figurative sculpture relative to other islands in the Solomons, making objects of this type significant markers within the broader field. The mortar form — a carved figure supporting a pestle receptacle on the head — placed the human body in direct functional relationship with the betel nut preparation that structured daily social exchange across much of Melanesia.
The female figure is carved with a clearly articulated face, the eyes inset with small white trade beads and the neck adorned with a necklace of larger trade beads, both details intact. The mortar is supported on the figure's head, the full assembly well-resolved from the carved feet through the waisted shaft to the flared mortar cup above. The wood has developed a deep, glossy patina through decades of handling, the surface carrying the evidence of sustained use over a long period.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
