19th C. Solomon Islands Buka Figure - Wood and Shell

Lot 24

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Selling antiquities, ancient and ethnographic art online since 1993, Artemis Gallery specializes in Classical Antiquities (Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Near Eastern), Asian, Pre-Columbian, African / Tribal / Oceanographic art. Our extensive inventory includes pottery, stone, metal, wood, glass and textil...Read more

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Indigenous Art - Ralph T. Coe Center, Santa Fe, NM by Artemis Fine Arts

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Indigenous Art - Ralph T. Coe Center, Santa F...

By Artemis Fine Arts

Aug 22, 2025

Set Reminder 2025-08-22 10:00:00 2025-08-22 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Indigenous Art - Ralph T. Coe Center, Santa Fe, NM https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/indigenous-art---ralph-t-coe-center-santa-fe-nm-20324 Featuring works of art from the Ralph T. Coe Center for the Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico, a non-profit focused on promoting Indigenous Arts globally. All proceeds from the sale of these items will support future grants to Rehoming Program participants. Artemis Fine Arts info@artemisfinearts.com

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Lot Description

Oceania, Melanesia, Solomon Islands, Buka Island, ca. 19th to early 20th century CE. A rare carved male ancestor figure from Buka Island in the Solomon Islands, rendered in darkened wood with characteristic elongated limbs and minimalistic anatomical stylization, all standing upon an ovoid base surrounded by a strip of metal. His eyes are inlaid with luminous mother-of-pearl shell, creating a penetrating gaze beneath a broad brow. A woven fiber and rattan headdress encircles the top of the head, adding texture and ceremonial presence to the composition. The figure is nude, with legs bent and hands positioned at the shoulders in a pose suggestive of ritual presence or spiritual invocation. The surface has been blackened, likely with soot or pigment, consistent with Buka sculptural tradition. Size: 4.5" L x 8.4" W x 32" H (11.4 cm x 21.3 cm x 81.3 cm); 33.5" H (85.1 cm) on included custom stand.

Though little is recorded in published literature about these enigmatic figures, their careful craftsmanship, formal posture, and expressive detailing point to a significant ceremonial role, perhaps representing ancestral spirits or clan protectors. This figure exemplifies the scarcity and cultural significance of early Buka carvings, which are rarely encountered on the market or in museum collections.

Provenance: Ralph T. Coe Center for the Arts, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA, acquired from Taylor (Tad) Dale Gallery, Sante Fe, New Mexico, USA in 2005

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#195946

Condition

Losses to back of headdress and tearing to headdress peripheries. Expected age wear with some small nicks, abrasions, and stable hairline fissures scattered throughout. Miniscule areas of old, inactive insect holes. Otherwise, nice presentation with rich patina.
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