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Power and Taboo: sacred objects from the Pacific
Wooden human figure
The British Museum's unparalleled
collection of art and artefacts from the eastern Pacific has
continued to provide inspiration to both Polynesian and European
artists and poets as well as researchers. This wooden figure was a
favourite of English sculptor Henry Moore who was a frequent
visitor to the Museum.
The
figure was described in the account of Captain Cook's third
voyage (1776-80) to the region, published after Cook's
death. In 1779 members of the expedition visited Hale-o-Keawe, the
royal mausoleum, at Honaunau, Hawaii. They saw a figure, now
believed to be this one: '... a black figure of a man
resting on his fingers and toes, with his head inclined backwards;
the limbs well formed and exactly proportioned, the whole
beautifully polished ... and around it placed thirteen others of
rude and distorted shapes
...'.
Hale-o-Keawe
was also visited by the crew of HMS
Blonde, commanded by
Captain Lord Byron. Andrew Bloxam, their naturalist, wrote that
this figure was used by the kings to rest upon before making a
sacrifice as part of worship. He describes the removal of artefacts
in 1824, which were transported to England. This figure was among
them.