Bonito Fish Figure Item Number: 2642/5 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Carved bonito fish with long nose that tapers to a pointed end, and an open mouth. There are two protruding side fins, one protruding dorsal fin, a smaller fin near the tail, and two smaller fins on the underside of the fish. The surface of the body is inlaid with triangular-shaped, off-white pava shells set into what appears to be resin. There are two circular shells for eyes and a diamond shaped shell on the top of the head.

History Of Use

This bonito fish carving is modelled on larger versions that had cavities carved in them to hold ancestral skulls. The larger versions of the fish were kept in the canoe house, alongside the war canoes, and smaller versions, such as this one, were made for travellers.

Narrative

This carving was collected by Frank Burnett in 1909 in the Solomons. Burnett kept it in his curio room until giving it to his granddaughter, Josephine Groves, who took it to Oregon, where it remained until her death in 2002. It then travelled south to San Diego with her son Eric Groves, who donated it to MOA in 2004, to be reunited with the rest of the Burnett collection.

Item History

What

Name
Bonito Fish Figure
Identification Number
2642/5
Type of Item
figure
Material
paint ?, resin ?, milky pine wood and pava shell
Overall
height 29.0 cm, width 38.0 cm, depth 90.5 cm

Who

Culture
Solomon Islands
Previous Owner
Frank Burnett and Eric Groves
Received from
Eric Groves (Donor)

Where

Holding Institution
MOA: University of British Columbia
Made in
San Cristobal, Solomon Islands

When

Creation Date
during 1909
Collection Date
during 1909
Ownership Date
before November 8, 2004
Acquisition Date
on January 24, 2005

Other

Item Classes
carvings & sculpture
Condition
fair
Current Location
Case 65
Accession Number
2642/0005