A Fine Old Micronesian Ceremonial Food Bowl Chuuk Island Federated States of Micronesia

A Superb Antique Micronesian Food Bowl Palau Island Federated States of Micronesia 19th Century 

Micronesian Art is highly refined with minimalist forms or great beauty as this finely carved bowl is made from a single piece of hardwood.  Of elegant elongated slender form with mother-of-pearl shell inlay on both handles, if you look at the bowl vertically at either end you can see the way the three pieces of mother-of-pearl shell inlay are set to look like eyes & a mouth making a face similar to some of the Micronesian carved squatting figures faces.

This type of fine bowl was used in bridal dowry where families exchanged fine bowls and woven mats. Finely made ceremonial bowls were only used for special feasts such as for weddings.

Palau is part of the Federated States of Micronesia.

Micronesia can be divided into two art style areas. Western Micronesia consists of the island groups in the western Caroline archipelago, including Palau and the states of Yap and Truk (Chuuk). Eastern Micronesia includes the eastern Caroline Islands, the Marshall Islands, and Kiribati.

Throughout Micronesia, forms are exceedingly basic; decorative detail is largely geometric, consisting of bands of solid colour and rows of triangles in various patterns. Zoomorphic and anthropomorphic are relatively rare and are often expressed as silhouettes. The most frequent use of even this amount of decoration is found in the western Carolines, diminishing to none in eastern Micronesia

Provenance:  Old Collection /  The Todd Barlin Collection of Micronesian Art & Oceanic Art

I first went to Papua New Guinea in 1985 for an adventure & what I found was that I really enjoyed being with the people of New Guinea, over the next 38 years I spent extensive time spent collecting and documenting traditional art & ceremonies in remote areas of Papua New Guinea & West Papua, The Solomon Islands & Vanuatu & the other Pacific Islands countries. During these travels, I made major collections of New Guinea & Oceanic Art for major Museums and Public Art Galleries

I was honoured by being in the prestigious Louvre Museum Magazine for the collections I made for The Museum of African & Oceanic Art Paris in1996 (now the Musee Quai Branly) for the exhibition “Asmat et Mimika d’ Irian Jaya April 1996 At THE MUSEE NATIONAL des ARTS D’AFRIQUE et d’ OCEANIE, Paris

See all of the links & photos in my new EXHIBITIONS GALLERY and there is the link to the article in the prestigious Louvre Magazine 1996

I have artwork for Museums & Art Galleries but also for collectors at every stage of their collecting. I want to encourage people to explore the fine art of New Guinea & West Papua and the Pacific Islands and to be able to see and touch the artworks in a relaxed and friendly manner in my Sydney Gallery.  I would like to invite you to visit my gallery and see the artworks in person and also look at my website www.oceanicartsaustralia.com  where there are many Galleries & Sub Galleries to explore.

My Gallery of nearly 40 years is the last physical gallery in Sydney that specialises in New Guinea & Oceanic Art. Sydney is just a couple hours’ flight to New Guinea & the Pacific Islands where all of these amazing artworks came from, Australia’s closest neighbours.

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If you have a similar “object” for sale please contact me for the best price and honest advice by a Government approved valuer 

To see many more rare items and the finest masterpieces, please make an appointment with us to visit the gallery.

For all inquiries, please contact us.