Rennel Islands Ritual Shark Hook
1890
Height 8 1/4" not counting attachment
Provenance: Private collection, Melbourne, Australia
According to Kaeppler (ibid., p. 272), "Ritual hooks were used by the priest of the island to invoke the gods before fishing and were considered taboo."
Finely carved in hard dark brown wood with tightly-woven complex sennit fiber attached and forming a loop at the top; wear and patina indicative of significant age and cultural use.
1890
Height 8 1/4" not counting attachment
Provenance: Private collection, Melbourne, Australia
According to Kaeppler (ibid., p. 272), "Ritual hooks were used by the priest of the island to invoke the gods before fishing and were considered taboo."
Finely carved in hard dark brown wood with tightly-woven complex sennit fiber attached and forming a loop at the top; wear and patina indicative of significant age and cultural use.
1890
Height 8 1/4" not counting attachment
Provenance: Private collection, Melbourne, Australia
According to Kaeppler (ibid., p. 272), "Ritual hooks were used by the priest of the island to invoke the gods before fishing and were considered taboo."
Finely carved in hard dark brown wood with tightly-woven complex sennit fiber attached and forming a loop at the top; wear and patina indicative of significant age and cultural use.