Canoe bow element; Vanuatu, 20th century.

Element of a canoe bow; Vanuatu, 20th century.
Wood with gray patina and traces of polychrome.
Measurements: 55 cm.
Applique for prow made of carved wood. The piece presents a figurative design with the representation of a bird of stylized forms with the open beak in the superior zone of the applique. The piece has remains of polychrome.
The culture of Vanuatu retains a strong diversity through local regional variations and foreign influence. Vanuatu was first inhabited by people from Melanesia. The first Europeans to visit the islands were a Spanish expedition led by Portuguese navigator Fernandes de Queiros, who reached the largest island, Espiritu Santo, in 1606.