VIERNES, 4 DE SEPTIEMBRE DE 2026 
This Week in La Gazette Drouot : A rare ceremonial bowl from the Admiralty Islands shaped like a dog
O riginating in the Admiralty Islands, the canine figure lends its evocative power to this ceremonial bowl, which belongs to a rare, highly stylized collection.
By Sophie Reyssat
Read the full version of "A rare ceremonial bowl from the Admiralty Islands shaped like a dog" in La Gazette Drouot
Bordering Papua New Guinea to the north, the Bismarck Sea washes the shores of the eighteen Admiralty Islands, of which this ceremonial bowl is an emblem. Intended to hold food, it was carved to resemble a stylized dog.
While it is impossible to know for which ritual it was used, its symbolic value is clear:“By using this vessel, one metaphorically eats from the animal’s body,” notes Anthony J.P.Meyer.
The expert in Oceanic art explains that the dog played a vital role in the culture of these Melanesian islands:“Helping men track game—which was likely consumed at the end of the dog’s life as a hunter, though this cannot be confirmed—the dog is a recurring motif in the art of this archipelago.
Its canines were considered highly valuable. Extracted from the skull of the deceased animal and engraved, they were worn as necklaces or earrings, used to decorate various objects, and served as a medium of exchange. There were tens of thousands of them in circulation.”
While it is impossible to know for which ritual it was used, its symbolic value is clear:“By using this vessel, one metaphorically eats from the animal’s body,” notes Anthony J.P.Meyer.
The expert in Oceanic art explains that the dog played a vital role in the culture of these Melanesian islands:“Helping men track game—which was likely consumed at the end of the dog’s life as a hunter, though this cannot be confirmed—the dog is a recurring motif in the art of this archipelago.
Its canines were considered highly valuable. Extracted from the skull of the deceased animal and engraved, they were worn as necklaces or earrings, used to decorate various objects, and served as a medium of exchange. There were tens of thousands of them in circulation.”
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