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Tahitian Ti'i Figure - A Divine Spirit
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Female Figure (ti’i), late 18th to early 19th Century
Tahiti, Society Islands, French Polynesia, Polynesia
Wood, 2015.21.1, Bowers Museum Purchase
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Likely carved sometime between the 18th and early 19th century, this effigy figure stands 23 inches tall and is believed to be female because of its protruding navel. Carved out of smooth dark wood, the figure is completely flat on the back side while its head and front possess rounded features and minimal line work to define the face and hands. There is an undeniable presence about this sculpture, and indeed, it was made as a vessel to hold the spirit of a divine being. The primary relationship between this spirit and men may have been to offer protection to those making long seafaring voyages, those taking sacred journeys, or those going off to war. It is believed that ti’i such as this one were mounted on the bows or sterns of canoes. The anthropological understanding of the ti’i in Polynesian and Western cultures has been heavily influenced by Western missionaries who endeavored to portray these sculptures as evil, resulting in the destruction of many.
Physically, the sculpture’s finely carved features resemble art carving styles found in the Society Islands, Tahiti, and the Cook Islands; but, the unique color, form, and quality heighten the importance and rarity. The rich dark-brown patina, expert carving, and nearly flawless appearance distinguish it from nearly all other related ti’i sculptures known in the world. According to author Adrienne Kaeppler, “Its Tahitian attribution is based on its close resemblance to a similar figure in the British Museum, London.” This specified object at the British Museum is the only closely-related figure currently known to exist.
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