- Museum number
- Oc1875,1002.1.a-b
- Description
-
Bird-shaped bowl and lid of wood, inlaid with shell. The wood is coloured with red pigment.
- Production date
- 18thC (before 1783)
- Dimensions
-
Height: 50 centimetres
-
Width: 46.50 centimetres
-
Depth: 88.50 centimetres
- Curator's comments
-
Temporary Register (1861-1921), p.5; overall entry only. Individual registration Slip made out 2/1983.
A plate (no.1) of the object is in an account of Captain Henry Wilson's voyage, 1783. Between pages 102-103. AOA library, KXW [KEA-] 26682
See: An account of the Pelew islands, situated in the western part of the Pacific ocean, composed from the journals and communications of Captain Henry Wilson and some of his officers, who in August 1783, were there shipwrecked, in the Antelope... / fifth edition to which there is added a supplement, compiled from the journals of The Panther Endeavour,... by J.P. Hockin / George Keate.
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Exhibition label text written by D.C. Starzecka:
Shell-inlaid container for sweet drink, said to hold thirty-six English quarts. It belonged to Abba Thulle and was given by him to Captain Wilson at a farewell feast.
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This bowl is discussed briefly in Braunholtz, H. J. and Digby, A., 'The Beasley Collection', BMQ (1952) vol.XV, pp.103-5.
Beasley, H. G., ‘Inlaid Bowl and Stand from the Pelews’. Man (1914) Vol. 14, pp.33-34
'Amaso Delano,* who visited the islands with McCluer in 1792, speaks of this inlay work with admiration, which he describes as taking the form of birds, fishes, flying foxes, and men, and adds that in addition to their utensils this work was used on their canoes and paddles.' p.34.
- Location
- Not on display
- Exhibition history
-
Exhibited:
1983–1986 16 Dec-29 Jun, London, BM, Museum of Mankind, Pattern of islands: Micronesia yesterday and today
- Acquisition date
- 1875
- Acquisition notes
- Given to Captain Henry Wilson of the "Antelope" (East India Company ship) by '"King" Abba Thule' in 1783. Presented by Miss Salter on behalf of her uncle, the late Rev. William Wills, 1875.
- Department
- Africa, Oceania and the Americas
- Registration number
- Oc1875,1002.1.a-b
- Additional IDs
-
Miscellaneous number: Oc1972,Q.102 (also registered as)
