Chuuk Canoe Prow OrnamentChuuk, Caroline Islands, Micronesia, late 19th centuryGiven the import
Chuuk Canoe Prow OrnamentChuuk, Caroline Islands, Micronesia, late 19th centuryGiven the importance of seafaring, it is not surprising that many of the most highly skilled artists in the Caroline Islands were master canoe builders. The canoe prow ornament illustrated here comes from Chuuk. Carved from a single plank of wood and fastened to a large, paddled war canoe, the prow ornament provided protection on arduous or long voyages. That this and similar prow ornaments are not permanent parts of the canoes reflects their function. When approaching another vessel, the Micronesian seafarers lowered these ornaments as a signal that their voyage was in peace. The seemingly abstract design of the Chuuk prow may represent, at the top, two facing sandpipers. Some scholars, however, think the entire piece represents a stylized human figure, with the “birds” constituting the arms. (x) -- source link
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