Prestigious ornament (tema), Santa Cruz Islands, Solomon Islands archipelago Diameter: 17 cm Coral and tortoiseshell. Finely openwork, this tema features a design likely inspired by a frigate topped with stylized skipjack tuna—two motifs emblematic of the marine world of the Santa Cruz Islands. Worn as a prestige ornament during ceremonies, it attests to the refinement of the archipelago’s artisans, whose compositions combine geometric abstraction with observations of the natural world with remarkable elegance. Provenance: American gallery.