Featured Carved wood bird talisman thingy

I don't know what to even call this thing... It's a heavier wood, with a bird figure as the top and inlaid mother of pearl.

Any thoughts as to origin or tradition will be greatly appreciated.

 

These inlaid bands of finely cut mother of pearl are seen a lot in Solomon Island art. So I suspect your bird was made there, or in the vicinity.

 

It seems to have Christian iconography - the cross at the bird's neck, and at the base, and the bird itself would be a symbol of the Holy Spirit. Here are some other inlaid altar pieces from the Solomon Islands:

https://www.carters.com.au/index.cf...ds-cross-ebonised-and-ornately-inlaid-with-c/


https://www.michaelbackmanltd.com/o...hristian-altar-cross-inlaid-with-pearl-shell/

 

Interesting!