Ngnuzunguzu pirogue bow ornament

Hanging from the bow of a pirogue during an expedition, “the nguzunguzu… was supposed to observe, intercept, react and interact with any malevolent spirits encountered during the journey.
These little figures were essential to the success of headhunting expeditions to neighboring islands, which played a central role in the religious as well as economic and political life of the Western Solomon Islands before the British pacified the islands at the turn of the 20th century.” E. Hviding, Lives of the nguzunguzu.
Figures de proue de Nouvelle-Géorgie, L’Eclat des ombres, l’art en noir et blanc des Iles Salomon, 2014, p.124
More importantly, the nguzunguzu served to protect individuals against the Kesoko spirit, omnipresent on sea voyages, which prevented all human action, and whose destructive power was activated only if someone blinked.
The nguzunguzu ‘s intense, fixed gaze , his large eyes always open, guaranteed protection. Price: €7,800