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artist
Standing figure, 19th–20th century
Wood, paint, shell
29 x 5 3/4 (73.7 x 14.6 cm)
Gift of Dwight and Blossom Strong 1996.80

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Artist Biography: (none) PUBLICATIONS: 2009 FAM Bulletin entry (unabridged) - "This naturally proportioned sculpture represents a young female from the New Georgia (1) islands in the Solomon Islands. The Solomon Islands located just east of New Guinea comprises of a group of ten principle islands and more than thirty small islands. (2) Although the exact function of this sculpture is unclear, the uneven base implies it may have been cut from something or perhaps used as a post figure. (3) The realistic style of this piece suggests the artist's intent to represent an actual person. (4) The artist used black pigment as an overall color with the exception of the hair, ornaments, and clothing which have been left unpainted. A young Rovianna woman in the 19th century was distinguished by her loincloth, shell arms bands (5), round circular earrings, and necklace. (6) When he was in the Rovianna area in 1897 Lieutenant Boyle Somerville wrote, “The most striking ornament in New Georgia is the large earring…usually worn by the young unmarried of either sex.” (7) The fitted cap-like form on the head reflects contemporary hairstyles, which was cut short and bleached light with lime. (8) Although tattooing in New Georgia was uncommon, raised scarification marks or cicatrices were seen on shoulders, breasts, or thighs of many people starting at young age. (9) Scarification invariably included images of fish and frigate birds (10) as depicted on the thighs and shoulders of this sculpture, a design repeatedly used in many art forms throughout the Solomons. (11) With her arms straight to the sides, legs straight but engaged, and delicately incised facial ornamentation- this masterfully carved sculpture of a young woman conveys her individual personality." FOOTNOTES (1) Also referred as Rovianna (2) Gathercole, Peter, Adrienne Kaeppler, and Douglas Newton, Pacific Islands. (Washington: National Gallery of Art, 1979), 50. (3) 4D notes (4) Waite, Deborah, Art of the Solomon Islands from the Collection of Barbier-Muller Museum (Geneva: Musee Barbier-Mueller, 1983), 119. (5) 19 armbands are carved running from elbows to the top of the arm. (6) Somerville, Boyle T., “Enthographical Notes in New Georgia, Solomon Islands,” The Journal of the Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland 26 (1897): 357-412. (7) Somerville, Ethnographic Notes, 362 (8) Waite, Deborah, Art of the Solomon Islands from the Collection of Barbier-Muller Museum. (Geneva: Musee Barbier-Mueller, 1983), 119. (9) Somerville, Ethnographic Notes, 365. (10) A type of seabird (11) Somerville, Ethnographic Notes, 365

Related Keywords
Standing Strong Blossom Dwight Gift Oceania Province Western Islands Solomon Melanesia object Ritual shell paint Wood post something cut may implies base Uneven thighs upper decorate porpoises blades shoulder birds Frigate unpainted left been which clothing ornaments ear round hair exception color overall an as pigment black used artist ornamentation facial incised delicately engaged legs sides straight Arms figure female young Realistic 8528320112270020 A314850 1996.80 AOA