Figure

Description

Wooden figure carved in the shape of a man, with ribs and vertebral column displayed, elongated ears, eyes of obsidian, and crown of head carved with a human image: Oceania, Polynesia, Rapa Nui (Easter Island) before 1894

Museum reference

A.1894.381

Collection

Oceania

Object name

Figure

Production information

Rapa Nui, Polynesia

Date

Pre 1894

Materials

Wood, Obsidian

Physical description

Wood; eyes of obsidian; crown of head carved with a human image

Exhibitions

• Facing the Sea (29 Jul 2011)
  National Museum of Scotland

• Treasured: Wonderful Things, Amazing Stories (14 Nov 2008 - 01 Jan 2011)
  National Museum of Scotland

• Gauguin and Polynesia: South Pacific Encounters (14 Aug 2009 - 21 Feb 2010)
  Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek
  Seattle Art Museum

• Heaven and Hell and other worlds of the dead (01 Jul 2000 - 01 Feb 2001)
  Royal Museum of Scotland

• Primitive Arts of the South Seas (08 Apr 1949 - 07 May 1949)
  Royal Scottish Museum

• The Sculpture of Polynesia (14 Feb 1968 - 14 May 1968)
  Art Institute of Chicago

• La découverte de la Polynesie (01 Jan 1972 - 30 Jun 1972)
  Musée de l'Homme

References

Idiens, Dale. 'Pacific Art in the Royal Scottish Museum' Edinburgh: Royal Scottish Museum Studies, 1982 p. 23 image and catalogue entry No. 13

Aldred, Cyril 'Primitive Arts of the South Seas' Edinburgh: Royal Scottish Museum (on behalf of the Arts Council of Great Britain), 1949.

'La découverte de la Polynesie, Paris, Musée de l’Homme'. Paris: Musée de l’Homme, 1972.

Wardwell, Allen 'The Sculpture of Polynesia' Chicago: Art Institute of Chicago, 1967

Wingert, Paul 'Primitive Art'. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1962.

On display

national museum of scotland »
level 3 »
world cultures, facing the sea