Solomon Islands, Melanesia, Oceania: ‘Zaru’ shell money or shell ornamental platter.
The present piece is primarily made of the petrified, fossilised shell of a giant clam (Tridacna gigas) belongs to the second or third category of the so-called ‘Barava’ platters from the western Solomon Islands (see cat. no. 203). Such items were either used as traditional forms of money, (called ‘Zaru’, ‘Bokolo’ or ‘Dafi’), or as ornaments for ‘skull houses’. Atop a thick ring (a symbol for wealth) rests a wide, triangular platter of the same material with 3 vertical rows of 12 to 13 drilled and sawed openwork ‘slits’ each. With minor age-related damage (old cracks and tears on top). H: 17 cm, W: 9 cm, thickness: 1 cm (ring below). 19th century. (ME)
Provenance: French private collection.
Esperto: Prof. Erwin Melchardt
Prof. Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465
erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at
24.03.2014 - 16:00
- Stima:
-
EUR 1.000,- a EUR 1.500,-
Solomon Islands, Melanesia, Oceania: ‘Zaru’ shell money or shell ornamental platter.
The present piece is primarily made of the petrified, fossilised shell of a giant clam (Tridacna gigas) belongs to the second or third category of the so-called ‘Barava’ platters from the western Solomon Islands (see cat. no. 203). Such items were either used as traditional forms of money, (called ‘Zaru’, ‘Bokolo’ or ‘Dafi’), or as ornaments for ‘skull houses’. Atop a thick ring (a symbol for wealth) rests a wide, triangular platter of the same material with 3 vertical rows of 12 to 13 drilled and sawed openwork ‘slits’ each. With minor age-related damage (old cracks and tears on top). H: 17 cm, W: 9 cm, thickness: 1 cm (ring below). 19th century. (ME)
Provenance: French private collection.
Esperto: Prof. Erwin Melchardt
Prof. Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465
erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at
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Hotline dell'acquirente
lun-ven: 10.00 - 17.00
kundendienst@dorotheum.at +43 1 515 60 200 |
| Asta: | Tribal Art |
| Tipo d'asta: | Asta in sala |
| Data: | 24.03.2014 - 16:00 |
| Luogo dell'asta: | Wien | Palais Dorotheum |
| Esposizione: | 18.03. - 24.03.2014 |