A Fine Old Solomon Islands Hair Comb Malaita Island 19th Century

A Fine Old Solomon Islands Hair Comb Malaita Island 19th Century

This very beautiful old Hair Comb Ornament is from Malaita Island in the Eastern Solomon Islands.

The Comb is finely decorated with woven red & yellow orchid stems to make fine geometric designs on the front of the comb,

Combs were worn in the hair as ornaments and sometimes they had feathers or colored fiber attached to the tops of the comb. They are called Kafa Gwaroa Doe in the Kwaio Language, I field collected the Comb in the remote Kwaio area in central Malaita 40 years ago.

The Solomon Islands are famous for the very finely made body ornaments like these Combs and Shell Money Ornaments, both are an important type of traditional currency in the Solomon Islands.

Traditional wealth objects like this Comb were often part of a bridal dowry or used payments for compensation in disputes about land or gardens. Each family had some hair comb ornaments and sets of shell money ornaments that were worn on important ceremonial occasions. The two old field photos both show men wearing combs in their hair.

Provenance: The Todd Barlin Collection of Solomon Islands 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 

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