Souvenir "Skeletonized" Leaves

1915

Pitcairn Island

desiccated plant leaves, decorated with embroidery and ink

two examples

example above, length 19 cm, width approx. 11.8 cm

example below, length 17.7 cm, width approx. 11.5 cm

Provenance:

Katherine Routledge (1866-1935) and William Scoresby Routledge (1859-1939) 

John Charles Dundas Harington (1903-1980), British judge and barrister, the residuary legatee of William Scoresby Routledge

Discussion:

The expedition of British anthropologists Katherine Routledge and William Scoresby Routledge to Polynesia (the "Mana" Expedition), 1914-1915, is most famous for the pioneering work they did on Easter Island.  However, after Easter Island, they continued on to Pitcairn Island, where they also did important work.  These souvenir leaves were among the mementoes of their time on Pitcairn.