Menu
EUR
CAD
AUD
GBP
MXN
HKD
CNY
MYR
SEK
SGD
CHF
THBRare Solomon Islands Ritual Paddle, Bonito Fish Motif
Lot 22
About Seller
Artemis Fine Arts
686 S Taylor Ave, Ste 106
Louisville, CO 80027
United States
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
Categories
Live Auction in Progress ... Currently on Lot Estimate:
$3,500 - $5,500
Absentee vs Live bid
Two ways to bid:
- Leave a max absentee bid and the platform will bid on your behalf up to your maximum bid during the live auction.
- Bid live during the auction and your bids will be submitted real-time to the auctioneer.
Bid Increments
| Price | Bid Increment |
|---|---|
| $0 | $25 |
| $300 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $2,500 |
| $50,000 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 | $20,000 |
About Auction
Live
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
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
View Full Catalog (452)
- Lot Description
Oceania, Melanesia, Southeastern Solomon Islands, possibly Nggela Islands, ca. late 19th century CE. A long ceremonial paddle carved from wood, featuring a tapered blade and crescent-shaped handle. The surface is accented with black pigment and shimmering nacre (pearlshell) inlays. Central to the paddle's decoration is a raised bonito fish - a fish of spiritual and ancestral importance in Solomon Islander culture. Bonito are revered not only as powerful hunters of the sea but also as sacred beings that bridge the world of humans, ancestors, and oceanic spirits. The inlaid shell highlights the fish's gills, teeth, and eyes, as well as the sculpted embellishment just above the blade. The deep black surface, likely achieved using a blend of soot, plant resin, and possibly nautilus-derived ink, contrasts vividly with the shell, creating a dynamic effect - especially under torchlight, where the paddle appears to shimmer like a fish moving beneath the waves.
Such paddles were not merely functional tools, but also served ceremonial purposes, displayed before sacred canoe houses and used during rituals that marked the seasonal arrival of the first bonito. The handle bears evidence of age, including an old repair and areas where the black pigment has worn away. A culturally significant and visually compelling artifact that embodies the maritime traditions and spiritual worldview of the Solomon Islands. Compare to an example in the British Museum, museum number: Oc1913,0524.29.
Provenance: Ralph T. Coe Center for the Arts, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA; Purchased from the Taylor Dale Gallery, Santa Fe, New Mexico in June 1999.
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
#195957Old repair to the handle using cane fiber to reattach a piece. Minor surface wear and abrasions, but otherwise good condition and shell inlays are intact.Condition
- Shipping Info
-
All shipping is handled in-house for your convenience. Your invoice from Artemis Fine Arts will include shipping calculation instructions. If in doubt, please ask before bidding for estimated shipping costs for individual items.
-
- Buyer's Premium
