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'.

Ingoa Kē

Deity (English)

God Figure (English)

Staff (English)

Wāhi

[Rurutu]/Austral Islands/French Polynesia/Pacific

Accession Number

1950.128

Rā Tāpiringa

04 Jul 1950

Tohu Tuakiri Kē

31490 (ethnology)

425 (Oldman Collection)

Wāhanga

Pacific