Oceania, Melanesia, eastern Solomon Islands, Santa Cruz Islands, ca. 19th century CE. An incredible fishing net of a broad form used primarily for catching schools of sardines. The net is comprised of plant fibers that are first condensed into tight cords and then loosely woven together to form a useful trawling tool. The net is folded and neatly packed inside a bundle of dried palm fronds that are bound with a length of thread. Nets like this were and still are of invaluable importance to native islanders throughout Melanesia and Polynesia based on the number of sardines that could be caught with a single cast. Size (net): 90" L x 17" W (228.6 cm x 43.2 cm); (palm frond case): 9.5" W x 15.875" H (24.1 cm x 40.3 cm)
For a stylistically similar example from the Solomon Islands, please see The University of Rochester (courtesy of the Buffalo Museum of Science, C11464).
Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection; ex-Aguttes auction, Paris, France (April 7, 2017, lot 605)
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#154544
Condition
Net has minor loosening and stretching to some threads, and palm frond case has desiccation commensurate with age, otherwise intact and excellent. Great color to case and net.