Honiara, Solomon Islands
1990s
Wood, shell inlay, indigenous adhesive
Height: 27 in (68.6 cm); Width: 9¼ in (23.5 cm)
Provenance: Private collection, Honiara, Solomon Islands
Shell inlay has been a defining technique in Solomon Islands prestige object production for centuries, applied to canoes, weapons, and ceremonial objects as a marker of skill and standing. This contemporary shield continues that tradition, its surface covered in a dense field of shell pieces set in indigenous adhesive to create a figurative and geometric composition in black, red, and white. The piece was acquired directly from a Honiara private collection, placing it within the active craft tradition of the modern Solomons.
The composition is organized around a central frontal figure at the upper register set within an arched frame, a horizontal band of circular shell elements dividing the field at mid-height, and a mirrored lower register with a second smaller figure. The shell inlay is consistently applied across the entire surface, the contrasting materials creating a strong visual rhythm across the full length of the shield. The overall composition is more architecturally structured than the related example also in this inventory, the banded horizontal division giving this shield a distinct formal character.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
Honiara, Solomon Islands
1990s
Wood, shell inlay, indigenous adhesive
Height: 27 in (68.6 cm); Width: 9¼ in (23.5 cm)
Provenance: Private collection, Honiara, Solomon Islands
Shell inlay has been a defining technique in Solomon Islands prestige object production for centuries, applied to canoes, weapons, and ceremonial objects as a marker of skill and standing. This contemporary shield continues that tradition, its surface covered in a dense field of shell pieces set in indigenous adhesive to create a figurative and geometric composition in black, red, and white. The piece was acquired directly from a Honiara private collection, placing it within the active craft tradition of the modern Solomons.
The composition is organized around a central frontal figure at the upper register set within an arched frame, a horizontal band of circular shell elements dividing the field at mid-height, and a mirrored lower register with a second smaller figure. The shell inlay is consistently applied across the entire surface, the contrasting materials creating a strong visual rhythm across the full length of the shield. The overall composition is more architecturally structured than the related example also in this inventory, the banded horizontal division giving this shield a distinct formal character.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
