Grere'o
| Grere'o | |
|---|---|
|
|
| Information | |
| Weapon type: | Protective weapon, ceremonial object, professional weapon |
| Designations: | Grere'o, Solomon Islands basket sign |
| Use: | Protective weapon |
| Region of origin / author: |
Solomon Islands , ethnic groups in the islands |
| Distribution: | Solomon Islands |
| Overall length: | about 100 cm |
| Handle: | Vegetable fiber |
| Lists on the subject | |
The Grere'o , also known as the Solomon Islands basket shield , is a plaited shield from the Solomon Islands . The name comes from the language of the island of Santa Isabel .
description
The grere'o is made from braided fibers of sugar cane . It is rounded on both sides. The underside of the shield is wide and narrows towards the top. On the back there is a handle made from plant fibers. Large leaves or turtle shells are often attached between the handle and the shield to protect the hand. The front is often decorated with paintings. Feather bushes are usually attached to the top of the shield. These shields were only used in certain places in the Solomon Islands and were only sold to locals. The retail price for such a shield was the tooth of a great whale (Cetacea) or a sovereign .
There is a version that is more ornate. Here the front of the shield is coated with a paste made from nuts . Inlays made of mother-of-pearl are worked into this paste and pigments are applied for colored designs. Figures of stylized human bodies and faces also serve as decoration. Probably the paintings are supposed to refer to the tradition of headhunting . These shields served as status objects that were only worn by the chiefs, which is why this version of the Grere'o is very rare. There are around twenty-five left in the world. Since their surface is very sensitive, they were probably only used as ceremonial and status objects.
literature
- Deborah Waite: Exploring Solomon Islands shields: Vehicles of power in changing museum contexts. In: Anita Herle [ua] (Ed.): Pacific art: persistence, change, and meaning. University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu, Hawaii 2002, pp. 180-190, with ill., ISBN 0-8248-2556-X . ( Preview on Google Book )
Individual evidence
- ↑ Grere'o in the Pitt Rivers Museum , accessed September 11, 2012.
- ↑ Grere'o at the Metropolitan Museum, New York , English, accessed on 11 September 2012 found.