The Lapita culture is the name given to a Neolithic Austronesian people and their material culture, who settled Island Melanesia via a seaborne migration at around 1600 to 500 BCE. They were notable for their distinctive geometric designs on dentate-stamped pottery, which closely resemble the pottery recovered from the Nagsabaran archaeological site in northern Luzon. The Lapita intermarried with the Papuan populations to various degrees, and are the direct ancestors of the Austronesian peoples of Polynesia, eastern Micronesia, and Island Melanesia.

Islands that manufactured and employed pottery in every day life included Tonga, Samoa and Fiji. Throughout Fiji native pottery is fast disappearing, being replaced by iron and cheap china from the local stores, but a number of good accounts by witnesses during last century and earlier throw light on various aspects of the process of potmaking.

The example for auction was purchased in remote Fiji and resembles pieces made centuries ago. Early inhabitants used empty coconut shells to store and carry water. These shapes were adapted by potters and many shapes found today have evolved from the natural world. This example was hand crafted to resemble two empty coconut halves, joined to make a bottle. The patterning includes the sun, ridges and frills pressed into the pre-fired red clay. The glazing process is still very rudimentary and includes application of tree gum and curing in an open fire.

un-glazed water pot with wave pattern made from applied ridges and tooled dashes and waves around the neck and body .

120 mm in diametre x 105 mm tall

These display really well and are pieces of art from an ancient era.

Pics are of the actual items in auction..

I combine all auctions to reduce shipping costs.

I will combine to save postage, please pay the higher amount of shipping and the other items can be added free of charge. I DO NOT OFFER FREE POSTAGE UNLESS STATED.

Happy bidding, thanks for looking.