Prestige Bowl (purukei)

Papua New Guinea (Admirality Islands)

c. 1900

Wood

Minneapolis Institute of Art

A dark wood bowl with carved spiral handles and decorative bands around the rim rests on three small feet. The bowl is presented against a plain gray background. <font face=Times New Roman size=3> </font> <p> <span style=line-height: 107%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif; font-size: 12pt;>In the Admiralty Islands, prestige bowls were carried as part of wedding processions through the village, along with other dowry gifts, and were used to hold coconut oil at the bridal feast. The bowl was expertly sculpted from one large block of wood on Lou Island, one of the smaller islands in the Admiralty group, and traded from there. The handles, made separately and attached with nut paste, are purely ornamental. The bowl may represent a spirit ship, as the handles are similar in style t