**Originally Listed At $1500**

Oceania, Melanesia, Solomon Islands, Uki Island, Makira Province, ca. 19th to early 20th century CE. A striking minimalist spoon made from a coconut shell, its form resembling a shallow-keeled boat, with a curved over handle in the form of a leaf. The exterior is polished to a dark cocoa-colored sheen while the interior is a paler brown. Marks from use are present on the interior. This type of spoon is known as a "totono" and it would have been used as a serving spoon. Many made their way to the West via missionaries or naval expeditions. Size: 5.05" W x 2.75" H (12.8 cm x 7 cm)

See similar examples from the 19th century at the University of Sydney, ETD.760 and ETD.765.

Provenance: private Lilliwaup, Washington, USA collection; ex-Maples Auctions, Vestal, New York, USA, in the late 1990s

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#153634

Intact, with light scratching and deposits on surface commensurate with age. Great preservation of form.