A Fine Vintage Solomon Islands Shield with Shell Inlay Mosaic New Georgia Island West Solomon’s

A Fine Vintage Solomon Islands Shield with Shell Inlay Mosaic New Georgia Island West Solomon’s

This is not a 19^th Century Shield, it’s a very beautiful artwork made as part of a cultural revival shield made in the 1980s, so about 40 years old.

I bought this Shield for my own collection because I think it is a great sculptural artwork and made with great skill. Each of the tiny shell pieces was cut by hand, a whole family would work together on making the small shell pieces which takes a lot of time and effort. The mosaic is likely based on a photo of an old shield in a museum collection.  The old Solomons Island Shields with shell inlays were all done over a rattan shield with the shell pieces set in a black resin made from Parinarium Nut Paste, when it dries it goes hard like glue, the rattan shields were not so stable with time so this artist used a piece of hardwood to start with which is more stable for the mosaic.

Shell-inlaid Shields are among the most remarkable art forms from the Solomon Islands. There are about 25 known examples in Museums from the 19th Century/

All feature an inlaid central design of an elongated human figure surrounded by labyrinthine designs. Some, as in this example, also feature smaller faces positioned throughout the design. It appears that all of the known Solomon Islands shell inlaid shields were created in the first half of the nineteenth century, mostly likely on the islands of Guadalcanal and New Georgia, and then traded to neighboring groups.

Owning such a shield would have communicated a powerful statement on the wealth, status, and identity of its bearer. If you want to see more fine old Solomon Islands Art please look at my Solomon Islands Gallery https://www.oceanicartsaustralia.com/fine-tribal-art/solomon-islands-art/

Provenance: Bruce Saunders Honiara 1980s

The Todd Barlin Collection of Solomon Islands Oceanic Art. 

See my new EXHIBITIONS GALLERY  showing the Museums and Art Galleries Exhibitions that I provided artworks for over the past 40 years. There is the link to the article about my artworks published in the prestigious Louvre Magazine in 1996

I have artwork for Museums and 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 specializes in New Guinea and Oceanic Art.  Sydney is very close 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