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goddess figure

human history
  • Description

    This female figure of a goddess was carved from a whale's tooth. She is very old and has developed an orange-yellow coloured patina. One of the arms is broken. Figures such as this usually resided in houses of the gods or were worn as ornaments.

    Female figure made of whale tooth with a large head, orange-yellow in colour.

  • Place
    Tonga/Pacific
  • Accession Number
    1950.128
  • Accession Date
    04 Jul 1950
  • Other Id

    31895 (ethnology)

    533 (Oldman Collection)

  • Department

    Pacific

goddess figure, 1950.128, 31895, 533, Cultural Permissions… … Read more

Images and documents

Images

  • goddess figure, 1950.128, 31895, 533, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • goddess figure, 1950.128, 31895, 533, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • goddess figure, 1950.128, 31895, 533, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • goddess figure, 1950.128, 31895, 533, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • goddess figure, 1950.128, 31895, 533, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • goddess figure, 1950.128, 31895, 533, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • goddess figure, 1950.128, 31895, 533, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • figure
  • Figure

Artefact

  • Credit Line
    Collection of Auckland Museum Tamaki Paenga Hira, 1950.128, 31895; 533
  • Public Access Text

    This female figure of a goddess was carved from a whale's tooth. She is very old and has developed an orange-yellow coloured patina. One of the arms is broken. Figures such as this usually resided in houses of the gods or were worn as ornaments.

  • Cultural Origin

    Tongan

  • Collection
    Oldman
  • Primary Maker

     Unknown (Maker)

  • Place
    Tonga/Pacific
  • Date
    Pre 1950
  • Media

    whale/sea mammal/mammal/tooth/bone

  • Measurement Reading

    127mm

  • Classification

    Figure, god

    Ceremonial Artefacts

    Communication Artefacts

  • Last Update
    25 Jul 2023
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