Admiralty Islands, PNG.

Two finely carved spoons from the Admiralty Islands. These ceremonially carved spoons were always elaborately carved, with fine engraved designs, and painted colourfully in an orange-pink, with details in black and white.

a) A wide flat handle with open carving and fine geometric engraved motifs. Carved both sides. Early 20th C. ex-Daalder collection, Adelaide.

b) A very 3-dimensional handle in the form of a flying fish, with fine engraved geometric motifs over the whole fish form. Early 20th C. ex-Alex Philips, Melbourne.

a) 41 x 8 x 9 cm
b) 46 x 12 x 21 cm