Info on wood Breadfruit tree Stingray fish w/carved in relief African(?) scene

I found this at a local thrift store today. It has beautiful carved in relief scene on the back of a stingray fish and a story about the wood on the back. It has a small chip on the tip of one fin, but I bought it anyway because I've never seen anything like it.

It also has a small bio(?)/story of the Breadfruit tree wood that I'm guessing it is carved from on the back.

When I googled carved scene in breadfruit wood I found a couple of links to pieces that are in museums, but none for sale.

Can anyone tell me about my piece and/or the story behind Breadfruit trees? Are the carved scenes African? (I don't think Africa when I think stingray!)

I appreciate any information on my piece - thank you!

 

The place names on the narrative on the back seem likely to be about where this from: Palau, Micronesia, Pacific Islands.

 

Let me google that for you:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breadfruit

https://islandculturearchivalsupport.wordpress.com/2017/04/26/the-first-breadfruit-tree-palau/

https://artgallery.gvsu.edu/Detail/objects/879

 

Thank you - Pacific Islands never entered my mind! Is a carving on it rare - again the link showed one in a museum like I found?

 

Looks pretty touristy to me.

 

Maybe

 

If you google "Palauan storyboards" you can find more information and examples similar to your carved piece.

To summarize, the carved storyboards depict various Palauan legends, copying stories that used to be carved on the beams of traditional men's houses. The smaller format boards were developed as a saleable craft, beginning in the 1930's. "Among the handicrafts to be found in airport shops throughout Micronesia is the storyboard, Palau’s unique contribution to what has been termed “airport art.” "

https://www.penn.museum/sites/expedition/the-palauan-storyboards/

https://taniabeth.wordpress.com/2013/06/04/legends-storyboards-and-palauan-money/

In the case of the example I posted from the Grand Valley State University Art Gallery (Grand Rapids, MI), the board was given as a gift to the President of the University (Thomas Haas) by President Tommy Remengesau,Jr., President of Palau and GVSU alumni Class of ’79. Such items would be suitable gifts, representing a unique Palauan art form. The art gallery also has a second storyboard:

https://artgallery.gvsu.edu/Detail/objects/15387

Museums often hold things that are not specifically scarce or monetarily valuable. Historical Societies, for example, become repositories for whatever items members of the community think are interesting.

In terms of value, here are Palauan storyboards sold on ebay:

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nk..._dmd=1&_ipg=120&rt=nc&LH_Sold=1&LH_Complete=1

 

@2manybooks Thank you for your time and expertise. We all benefit from them!

 

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Often more compulsive curiosity than expertise, but thanks for the compliment.

 

2manybooks thank you! I actually like it & am going to keep it - at least for awhile!

 

I like it, too. Nice find!

 

That's a good term for the foible/addiction shared by many here.