Bonito Fish Figure Item Number: C378 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Dark brown fish on base with several horizontal bands composed of several rows of triangular pieces of inlaid pava shell, and decorated with inlaid pava shell triangles on fins and around head. Two dorsal fins, tail fin, two pectoral fins, and one ventral fin; long, tapered nose.
Narrative
According to Burnett, the bonito figure is worshipped due to the "belief that it, at the behest of their medicine man, drives shoals of small fish into the lagoon and prevents them from escaping until they are caught, for which service the Bonito god receives a toll through the Medicine Man."
Item History
- Made in New Georgia, Solomon Islands before 1909
- Collected during 1909
- Owned by Frank Burnett before 1927
- Received from Frank Burnett (Donor) on July 25, 1927
What
- Name
- Bonito Fish Figure
- Identification Number
- C378
- Type of Item
- figure
- Material
- pava shell, milky pine wood and stain
- Manufacturing Technique
- carved, painted and glued
- Overall
- height 29.0 cm, width 36.7 cm, depth 93.5 cm
Who
- Culture
- Solomon Islands
- Previous Owner
- Frank Burnett
- Received from
- Frank Burnett (Donor)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- New Georgia, Solomon Islands
When
- Creation Date
- before 1909
- Collection Date
- during 1909
- Ownership Date
- before 1927
- Acquisition Date
- on July 25, 1927
Other
- Item Classes
- carvings & sculpture
- Condition
- fair
- Current Location
- Case 58
- Accession Number
- 2191/0764