Image: Cook Islands carved wood figure, British Museum

Description: This large male figure has three smaller ones in high relief on the chest, plus two further figures in low relief on each arm, all male. Coir arm bindings cover traces of barkcloth and feathers. It is extremely heavy, probably made of ironwood (Casuarina equisetifolia) which takes a high polish. No information is known about its original use, but it is attributed to Rarotonga on the basis of its distinctive eye form (an eye, two lids and one brow), similar to that on the staff gods (nos 192-3). It has escaped being emasculated, despite its missionary collectors; only one other comparable example is known (Ortiz, G.,1994, 'In pursuit of the absolute: art of the ancient world from the George Ortiz collection,' London: Royal Academy of Art: no. 274). A formal relationship with the Rurutu casket image (no. 156) has been widely noted.
Title: Cook Islands carved wood figure, British Museum
Credit: http://www.britishmuseum.org/collectionimages/AN00078/AN00078727_001_l.jpg
Author: British Museum
Usage Terms: Public domain
License: Public domain
Attribution Required?: No