Σπάνιο ραβδί χορού από τη λίμνη Μαρόβο - Μαρόβο Νέα Γεωργία - Νήσοι Σολομώντος (χωρίς τιμή ασφαλείας)

Dance Wand – Bird Form, Marovo Lagoon, New Georgia Island

Elegant ceremonial dance wand carved in the stylized form of a bird, most likely representing a frigate bird, an important and widely recognized creature throughout the islands of Melanesia. The object was field collected in the 1990s in the Marovo Lagoon, New Georgia Island.

Carved from wood with a refined and elongated form, the sculpture captures the distinctive character of the bird with remarkable economy of line. The elegant proportions and flowing silhouette suggest movement and grace, qualities that would have been especially effective when carried or displayed during ceremonial dances and communal gatherings.

Bird imagery holds deep symbolic meaning in many island societies of the Solomon Islands. The frigate bird in particular is often associated with freedom, power, and the spirit world, moving effortlessly between sea and sky. Objects such as this wand could have served as visual and symbolic elements in ritual performance.

The surface shows an attractive aged patina consistent with use and handling over time, enhancing the sculptural presence of the piece.

Field collected in situ in the Marovo Lagoon, New Georgia Island, in the 1990s.

A finely balanced and evocative example of ceremonial sculpture from the Solomon Islands, combining elegant form with strong cultural resonance—an appealing object for collectors of Oceanic art.

We pack with care, sending all over the world for 35 years already

A must have for collectors, ethnographers, ethnologists, anthropologists and museums

Sold by Koos Knol, ethnographer and anthropologist, dealer of Papua Tribal Art for more than 30 years, expert and author of the book “Papua Blues”, written in Dutch. (Maybe in English next year.) Published end of October 2024
A book about inside stories, a book that deals with the many encounters with special people in West Papua, the impressive experiences that the author has, about special encounters with men and women who tell him about secret things, about ethnographic objects and initiate him into the rituals and ceremonies.
A must have for collectors, ethnographers, ethnologists, anthropologists and museums

Google: Papua Blues Koos Knol