DOI issue:
Nr. 144 (March 1905)
DOI article:Praetorius, Charles J.: Art in the Solomon Islands
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.20711#0137
Art in the Solomon Islands
illustrated the bird is shown to have caught a fish,
which it holds in its beak. When the carving
and inlaying was finished, the bowl was generally
blackened with the juice of the Makita nut, giving
relief to the shell patterns, which make a striking
contrast against the wood.
Cocoanut shells, or portions of the shell, were
largely used as domestic utensils, among which are
spoons, bottles, and drinking vessels. Bottles were
made from a whole shell, into which a short piece
of bamboo was inserted to form a neck ; the whole
of the outer surface was then coated with vegetable
gum, and modelled into the form of what looked
rather like a piece of hand-made pottery ; into the
gum was stuck pieces of shell or red seeds—a
pattern frequently seen is a rude form of chevron
line.
Drinking cups were formed from half a shell, the
under surface highly polished and decorated with
a band of ornament which terminated in a frigate
bird. A good example of this type of cup was
recently obtained from Ulawa Island. A spoon
from Guadalcanar Island has the under surface
covered with geometrical patterns, roughly en-
graved and afterwards filled in with lime. Five
figures from ru 111 an a island
carved figure
from rubiana island
different forms of ornament are here
introduced. An object of great veneration,
called a tindalo, . shows bands of orna-
ment scratched or cut in a similar manner
to the cocoanut spoons.
In decorated heads, the face was re-
modelled and generally inlaid with pearl
shell patterns. Skulls treated in this way
were generally in affectionate memory of a
relative or friend or some distinguished
chief. There are some good specimens
of these decorated heads from Rubiana
Island, to be seen in the museum of
the Royal College of Surgeons, London.
A good head from Ronongo Island
(page it8), shows how these skulls ap-
peared when preserved. The ear is carved
in wood and fastened to the head with
a nail, while the lobe of the ear is shown
distended, with perforation, in which is a
circular ear ornament. The hair is imi-
tated by little tufts of soft bark, which are
teased out. A double water-bottle from
Shortland Island is interesting ■ the body
121
illustrated the bird is shown to have caught a fish,
which it holds in its beak. When the carving
and inlaying was finished, the bowl was generally
blackened with the juice of the Makita nut, giving
relief to the shell patterns, which make a striking
contrast against the wood.
Cocoanut shells, or portions of the shell, were
largely used as domestic utensils, among which are
spoons, bottles, and drinking vessels. Bottles were
made from a whole shell, into which a short piece
of bamboo was inserted to form a neck ; the whole
of the outer surface was then coated with vegetable
gum, and modelled into the form of what looked
rather like a piece of hand-made pottery ; into the
gum was stuck pieces of shell or red seeds—a
pattern frequently seen is a rude form of chevron
line.
Drinking cups were formed from half a shell, the
under surface highly polished and decorated with
a band of ornament which terminated in a frigate
bird. A good example of this type of cup was
recently obtained from Ulawa Island. A spoon
from Guadalcanar Island has the under surface
covered with geometrical patterns, roughly en-
graved and afterwards filled in with lime. Five
figures from ru 111 an a island
carved figure
from rubiana island
different forms of ornament are here
introduced. An object of great veneration,
called a tindalo, . shows bands of orna-
ment scratched or cut in a similar manner
to the cocoanut spoons.
In decorated heads, the face was re-
modelled and generally inlaid with pearl
shell patterns. Skulls treated in this way
were generally in affectionate memory of a
relative or friend or some distinguished
chief. There are some good specimens
of these decorated heads from Rubiana
Island, to be seen in the museum of
the Royal College of Surgeons, London.
A good head from Ronongo Island
(page it8), shows how these skulls ap-
peared when preserved. The ear is carved
in wood and fastened to the head with
a nail, while the lobe of the ear is shown
distended, with perforation, in which is a
circular ear ornament. The hair is imi-
tated by little tufts of soft bark, which are
teased out. A double water-bottle from
Shortland Island is interesting ■ the body
121