Santa Cruz Islands, Temotu Province, Solomon Islands
19th century
Wood
Length: 26¼ in (66.7 cm)
Provenance: English trade
Dishes from the Santa Cruz Islands were functional objects made with a strong sense of sculptural proportion, their forms shaped by the demands of use as much as by aesthetic intent. The elongated lenticular outline visible here is characteristic of the region, the carved rim rising cleanly from the bowl surface without applied ornament. Objects acquired through English trade in the nineteenth century entered collections during the active period of Pacific contact, when such pieces moved directly from island communities into European hands.
The surface has been shaped by age, handling, and sustained use, the wood darkened and smoothed to a consistent tone across the full length of the piece. The restrained outline and absence of decorative elaboration give the dish a directness that reads as considered rather than unfinished. The form holds well at this scale, the proportions balanced between the depth of the bowl and the projection of the carved rim tabs at each end.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
Santa Cruz Islands, Temotu Province, Solomon Islands
19th century
Wood
Length: 26¼ in (66.7 cm)
Provenance: English trade
Dishes from the Santa Cruz Islands were functional objects made with a strong sense of sculptural proportion, their forms shaped by the demands of use as much as by aesthetic intent. The elongated lenticular outline visible here is characteristic of the region, the carved rim rising cleanly from the bowl surface without applied ornament. Objects acquired through English trade in the nineteenth century entered collections during the active period of Pacific contact, when such pieces moved directly from island communities into European hands.
The surface has been shaped by age, handling, and sustained use, the wood darkened and smoothed to a consistent tone across the full length of the piece. The restrained outline and absence of decorative elaboration give the dish a directness that reads as considered rather than unfinished. The form holds well at this scale, the proportions balanced between the depth of the bowl and the projection of the carved rim tabs at each end.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
