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Description: | none CULT unknown pre-1897 Ra'ivavae Island, Austral Islands Polynesia The underside and handle of this ladle is carved over all in low relief in an elaborate design of interlocking geometric patterns. At one end of the deep pointed-end bowl are carved two abstracted frigate-birds which face into the bowl. The turret-like handle top is carved with ten abstracted human figures with protruding faces. Ra'ivavaean ladles are thought to be a 19th century amalgamation of traditional bowl ('umete) and canoe paddle designs. This type of long ladle is an unconventional form of utensil in Polynesia. Their original function is uncertain; similar ladles have been recorded as having been used to serve visiting dignitaries coconut pudding. During the early 19th century, the growing number of whaling ships and voyagers which visited the Austral Islands makes it likely that these ladles became valued more as trade objects than items for domestic usage. Accession book reads "Presentation from the Lanfine Collection 1887" (Daniel Scott-Heaney, 2006). | License: | http://www.hmag.gla.ac.uk/spirit/rights/ | Publisher: | Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery, University of Glasgow | Rights holder: | Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery, University of Glasgow | Subjects: | FOOD : SCOOP : EATING : CEREMONIAL : UTENSIL : DSH : MH_EXPLORATION_SCREEN_REAR : ECK_COLLECTION : EXIT2929 : GEOLOGY : | Source: | Hunterian Museum | Creator: | Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery, University of Glasgow | Identifier: | http://www.huntsearch.gla.ac.uk/cgi-bin/... | Language: | en-GB | Go to resource |
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