To'o

To'o. Staff, Deity or God Figure. A wooden carving in ra'au (wood), of deities back to back (sometimes referred to as 'janus' figures') at either end of a shaft. There is a matting of nape (coconut fibre) fitted to one side. This would likely have been tied on in the past but is now fully detached. The figures have protruding, angular brows and pointed, angular chins. Their arms appear crossed or folded with the elbows forming a point in a downwards direction. Their knees are bent at right angles which combine to effectively frame the belly or stomach as the 'seat of knowledge'.

Other Name

Deity (English)

God Figure (English)

Staff (English)

Place

[Rurutu]/Austral Islands/French Polynesia/Pacific

Accession Number

1950.128

Accession Date

04 Jul 1950

Other Id

31490 (ethnology)

425 (Oldman Collection)

Department

Pacific