Figure

Description

Female figure (moai papa) carved in wood (toromiro), with flattened body, hair gathered into a top-knot, eyes of bone and obsidian, and ear plugs of bone: Oceania, Polynesia, Rapa Nui (Easter Island), 19th century

Museum reference

A.1895.373

Collection

Oceania

Object name

Figure

Production information

Rapa Nui, Polynesia

Date

19th century

Style / Culture

Pacific Peoples

Materials

Toromiro wood, Obsidian, Bird bone

Physical description

Carved female figure with flattened body, carved from miro wood; eyes with inlays of bone and obsidian, ear plugs of bone.

Associations

Darsie Collection

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

References

Brunt, Peter and Thomas, Nicholas 'Oceania' exhibition catalogue, Royal Academy, London, 2018 cat.145, p.245, p.306

Kjellgren, Eric. 2001. Splendid Isolation. Art of Easter Island. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art (comparative examples)

Heyerdahl, Thor, The art of Easter Island. Allen & Unwin, Feb. 1976. Plates 30 and 31a, p270.

On display

national museum of scotland »
level 3 »
world cultures, facing the sea »
pf.5