Shield (Grere'o)
Arts of the Pacific Islands
The unparalleled virtuosity of the Solomon Islanders in the art of shell inlay is clearly demonstrated by this rare and richly embellished war shield, collected before 1852 by Surgeon Captain James Booth of the British Royal Navy. Only about twenty of these shields are extant today, and all are believed to have been made before 1840. Shell-inlaid shields were based on the more common elliptical wicker shields made on Guadalcanal and traded to Santa Isabel Islanders, who decorated the shield by covering it with red and black resins and setting in abstract linear designs created with small pieces of nautilus shell. Two detached heads and a face below, as well as a set of four double arrow-like points, distinguish this shield, whose characteristic design format is dominated by an anthropomorphic figure with upraised arms. These shields were too fragile for use and were designed as prestige items.
CULTURE
Guadalcanal Islander
MEDIUM
Basketry, nautilus shell, parinarium nut paste, pigment
GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATIONS
- Place collected: Santa Isabel Island, Isabel Province, Solomon Islands
- Place made: Guadalcanal Island, Guadalcanal Province, Solomon Islands
DATES
before 1852
DIMENSIONS
31 3/4 x 11 3/4 x 2 1/2 in. (80.6 x 29.8 x 6.4 cm) (show scale)
COLLECTIONS
Arts of the Pacific Islands
ACCESSION NUMBER
59.63
CREDIT LINE
Frank L. Babbott Fund and Carll H. de Silver Fund
CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION
Ceremonial shield, basketry base covered with red and black resin and inlaid with tiny mother-of-pearl squares in typical abstract human form design. Shield possibly used as currency.
MUSEUM LOCATION
This item is not on view
CAPTION
Guadalcanal Islander. Shield (Grere'o), before 1852. Basketry, nautilus shell, parinarium nut paste, pigment, 31 3/4 x 11 3/4 x 2 1/2 in. (80.6 x 29.8 x 6.4 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Frank L. Babbott Fund and Carll H. de Silver Fund, 59.63. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 59.63_SL1.jpg)
IMAGE
overall, 59.63_SL1.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph
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RIGHTS STATEMENT
Creative Commons-BY
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