Polynesian Miro Wood Pitcairn Flying Fish (1900 to 2000 Pitcairn Islands)

Miro Wood

Provenance: Ex English Private collection
See Finch & Co catalogue no. 4, item no. 105, for another collection of Pitcairn fish

The descendants of Fletcher Christian and the mutineers of the Ship 'Bounty' still live on Pitcairn and Christian is still an island family name. Cut off from the mainstream of life on their tiny island the community of some 60 people, mostly Seventh Day Adventists, runs on a fragile economy largely subsidised by the British Government and by a flourishing trade in postage stamps bearing the head of the Queen. They supplement this meagre income by making carvings of flying fish from Miro wood harvested on the coral atoll of Henderson Island. Since the opening of the Panama Canal, Pitcairn has been on the sea route to New Zealand and the carved fish are popular with the visiting yachts. The Islanders go out in their 40 foot aluminium long boats known as 'Tin' and 'Tub' with bags of mail, fresh fruit and the Miro wood carvings and return with cash from the tourists.

Names on Fish: (carved / stamped inscriptions unless otherwise stated)

½ fish models

Large half fish – written in pencil (rare) – Christie Warren Pitcairn Island
Half model Jacob R Warren (later model) P.I South Pacific
Pair half models: Christy Warren, Pitcairn Island, made by, ditto (2)
Large half models: ink inscription (rare) – made by Cairn Christian, Pitcairn Island

Full fish models:

Made by Oscar Clark, From Pitcairn Island
A Souvenir from Pitcairn Island, made by Samuel C Young
From Pitcairn Island, made by Oscar Clark
Souvenir from Pitcairn Island, made by Jim Jacobsen
From Pitcairn Island, made by Aubrey Young
From Pitcairn Island, made by Oscar Clark
A Souvenir from Pitcairn Island, Made by Cairn Christian
Souvenir from Pitcairn Island, made by Christian Warren
Pitcairn Island
A Souvenir from Pitcairn Island, Made by Lanford Warren
A Souvenir from Pitcairn Island, made by Ralph Young

3 fish un-signed / stamped

A Collection of Nineteen Carved Polynesian Miro Wood Pitcairn Flying Fish
Some marked with the artist's name. Full details of each one supplied on request
First half 20th Century

Sizes: 59cm wide – 23¼ ins wide (max) 24cm wide – 9½ ins wide (min)

Please email or call +44 (0)20-7413 9937 for more information or to purchase this item.

FOR SALE