TWO TORRES STRAITS SPINNING-TOPS, kolap, each with volcanic stone convex disc drilled for the palm spindle, one painted in red, yellow and blue with two figures holding baskets, a half figure below them, the other painted in red, white and blue with a figure with tall headdress or coiffure and two stylised animals, remains of old labels

Details
TWO TORRES STRAITS SPINNING-TOPS, kolap, each with volcanic stone convex disc drilled for the palm spindle, one painted in red, yellow and blue with two figures holding baskets, a half figure below them, the other painted in red, white and blue with a figure with tall headdress or coiffure and two stylised animals, remains of old labels
15cm. and 12.5cm. diam (2)
Provenance
Lt. Gen A.H.L.F. Pitt Rivers, acquired from Mr E.B. Savage, The Square, Ringwood, Hampshire, 20 October, 1894

Lot Essay

The catalogue of the Pitt Rivers Museum (vol.3, p.1053) records the description of the scene on the first top as recounted by Mr Savage.
"The figures on one of them represents two men holding fish baskets ready for a rush into the water. There is a kind of sardine which the natives cal "Tup" which come in close to the shore in shoals. Several men stand on the beach with a funnel shaped basket each, and one has a long pole with a tuft of feathers at the further end. They rush into the water together, the man with the pole striking the water with the feathery end of the rod, and causing the "Tup" to spring up out of the water as they do when chased by a shark, the men with baskets are close upon their heels, and giving a scoop with the baskets, they catch numbers of the small fish as they are descending again into the water. The top is spun by twisting the stick between the two flat hands"

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