Shield (Grere'o)
Brooklyn Museum photograph
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The Brooklyn Museum is commemorating its 200th anniversary by spotlighting 200 standout objects in its encyclopedic collection.
The impressive workmanship on this grere’o, or decorated shield, is some of the highest quality known today. It was made in the Solomon Islands, in the first half of the 19th century. Its oblong shape and woven construction echo that of a lave (war shield), but the elaborate nautilus shell decoration is rare. The embellished surface is fragile but still in good condition, which means this shield was probably not destined for combat but instead signaled status for its owner—someone of high rank in the community. The dramatic geometric pattern is made up of inlaid squares of nautilus shell, creating white lines against the contrasting red and black background made of Parinarium nut paste and pigment, which was applied over a wickerwork armature. The details of these shields are unique, but the designs tend to follow the same basic program: an elongated, abstracted human figure in the center, with what look like two bows, one on either side, and a labyrinth of surrounding lines. There may also be—as here—additional faces below the central figure.
About two dozen grere’o are known today, and this one has one of the most complete provenance records: it was initially collected by Surgeon Captain James Booth of the British Royal Navy before 1852.
Object Label
The unparalleled virtuosity of the Solomon Islanders in the art of shell inlay is clearly demonstrated by this rare and richly embellished war shield, collected before 1852 by Surgeon Captain James Booth of the British Royal Navy. Only about twenty of these shields are extant today, and all are believed to have been made before 1840. Shell-inlaid shields were based on the more common elliptical wicker shields made on Guadalcanal and traded to Santa Isabel Islanders, who decorated the shield by covering it with red and black resins and setting in abstract linear designs created with small pieces of nautilus shell. Two detached heads and a face below, as well as a set of four double arrow-like points, distinguish this shield, whose characteristic design format is dominated by an anthropomorphic figure with upraised arms. These shields were too fragile for use and were designed as prestige items.
Caption
Guadalcanal Islander. Shield (Grere'o), before 1852. Basketry, nautilus shell, parinarium nut paste, pigment, 31 3/4 x 11 3/4 x 2 1/2 in. (80.6 x 29.8 x 6.4 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Frank L. Babbott Fund and Carll H. de Silver Fund, 59.63. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum)
Tags
Gallery
Not on view
Collection
Gallery
Not on view
Collection
Culture
Title
Shield (Grere'o)
Date
before 1852
Geography
Place collected: Santa Isabel Island, Isabel Province, Solomon Islands, Place made: Guadalcanal Island, Guadalcanal Province, Solomon Islands
Medium
Basketry, nautilus shell, parinarium nut paste, pigment
Classification
Dimensions
31 3/4 x 11 3/4 x 2 1/2 in. (80.6 x 29.8 x 6.4 cm)
Credit Line
Frank L. Babbott Fund and Carll H. de Silver Fund
Accession Number
59.63
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