Solomon Islands Canoe House Support Post

 Origin: San Cristobal, Solomon Islands
 Age: mid 20th century
 Materials: Tropical hardwood
 Size: 112"

Figurative Support Post From Sacred Bonito Canoe House – Eastern Solomon Islands

Originating from the island of San Cristobal in the Eastern Solomon Islands, this carved figurative house post once acted as a central support post for a community men’s house. This was a grand structure used to house the large sacred canoes that were used to hunt at sea for bonito (tuna). The bonito hunt was an important stage in a young man’s life, whereby he would gain important ancestral knowledge through the rites and rituals associated with the hunt. 

The carved figure is adorned with the chiefly regalia that were worn during the ceremonies associated with the bonito hunt.  The figure wears a headband of small cowrie shells and a complex nose ornament is depicted suspended from the septum. The ears are depicted with large circular ear spools. These ear spools would have been rendered out of a polished tridacnashell disc. Additionally, the chest bears a crescent shaped pectoral ornament that would have been rendered from the lip of a large shell.  Beside the crouching legs, the hands are each grasping a large bonito which extends down the length of the post. The serpentine motif running along the upper portions of the post, depict a mythological snake that is central to the stories and customs of the bonito hunt.  The recessed region at the top of the post would have secured a wooden crossbeam to support the palm thatched roof.  The post is carved from a dense ironwood that has faded and weathered to a gray patina, from exposure to the salt air and sunlight over many decades. 

With the introduction of Christianity, the bonito hunt and its associated rites had largely disappeared from the Eastern Solomons by the 1970’s, and subsequently many of the grand bonito houses were left in disrepair and were abandoned to the elements.  Fortunately, this support post was documented and photographed in situ by the New Zealand based anthropologist Sidney Meade in 1971,  prior to being collected.  Meade recorded that the post was carved by a man named Magua of Mwakorukoru village. In the Eastern Solomons, master carvers, like chiefs, were highly revered, and their names were associated with their carvings long after they had died.  It’s quite unique to have such detailed information accompany an artifact. The post was already quite old when photographed, and likely dates to the 1930’s.
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