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LOT 2405
Solomon Islands Trawling Lure
CIRCA 19TH CENTURY A.D.
3 1/4 in. (12.9 grams, 81 mm).
An Oceanic fish lure comprising a polished shell body and a carved hook attached to the reverse with twine. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceFrom the private collection of Kenneth Machin (1936-2020), Buckinghamshire, UK; his collection of antiquities and natural history was formed since 1948; thence by descent.
LiteratureSee Waite, D. & Conru, K., Solomon Islands Art: The Conru Collection, 5 Continents, 2008. Blau, D., & Maas, K., Fish Hooks of the Pacific Islands, Hirmer, 2012; Brunt, P. & Thomas, N., Oceania, Royal Academy of Arts, 2018; Grulke, W., Adorned by Nature: Adornment, Exchange & Myth in the South Seas, At One Communications, 2022.
FootnotesSuch lures were not used with bait but were dragged behind a fast-moving canoe to attract the prey with the abalone shell glinting in the sun to emulate the scales of a fish in order to attract larger fish.
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AUCTIONS:
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Maori Trawling Lure Fish Hook
New Zealand, 18th-19th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,300
An Oceanic fish-hook comprising a D-section wooden shank with polished shell panel (the lure) and barbed bone hook attached with twine. 15.9 grams, hook: 90 mm
From the private collection of Kenneth Machin (1936-2020), Buckinghamshire, UK; his collection of antiquities and natural history was formed since 1948; thence by descent.
This Maori trolling lure fish hook (pā kahawai) comprises three pieces – a worked piece of polished haliotis or paua shell attached to a curved, wooden shank, and then a carved long barb. Each of the segments is held in place by tightly bound muka fibre. Such lures were used by the Maori to fish for sea salmon (kahawai). The lure would be dragged behind a fast-moving canoe to attract the prey with the haliotis shell glinting in the sun to emulate the scales of fish to attract larger fish. The technique of using a trolling lure was a Polynesian fishing technique that was brought to New Zealand by the Maori and adapted using local materials.
