 |
| Wooden figures, Society Islands, 1886.1.1424 and .1423 |
These carved wooden figures from the Society Islands were described by the Forsters as 'Wooden representations of human figures.' The
figures, male and female, have been described in the past as 'idols',
and to have been associated with the 'free standing sorcery figures'
that were the abodes of inferior and sometimes malignant gods, the 'oromatua.
It has also been suggested that the figures, known as ti'i
were used as canoe prows or stern figures, since the feet are damaged,
as they appear to have been attached at one time to a larger piece of
wood.
 |
| 1886.1.1424 Female figure |
According to Hooper, in 'Pacific Encounters - Art and
Divinity in Polynesia 1760-1860' (British Museum Press, 2006) the
asymmetrical hand position of the female figure is very unusual in the
Society Islands. He goes on
to say that 'the second-voyage ships visited several places in the
group, and, given that no specific island style has yet been identified,
this figure may be from an island other than Tahiti or Ra'iatea.'
