ear-ornament;
religious/ritual equipment
- Museum number
- Oc1978,Q.845.c
- Description
-
Feather ornament from the head section of the staff god.
- Production date
- 18thC(late)-19thC(early) (before 1827)
- Dimensions
-
Length: 396 centimetres (Overall length of staff god)
-
Width: 60 centimetres
-
Depth: 60 centimetres
- Curator's comments
-
Hooper 2006
The only surviving wrapped example of a large staff god, this impressive image is composed of a central wood shaft wrapped in an enormous roll of decorated barkcloth. The shaft is in the form of an elongated body, with a head and small figures at one end. The other end, composed of small figures and a naturalistic penis, is missing.
This image was among fourteen presented to Reverend John Williams at Rarotonga in May 1827. After describing them he noted that 'Near the wood were red feathers, and a string of small pieces of polished pearl shells, which were said to be the manava, or soul of the god' (Williams, J.,1837, 'A narrative of missionary enterprises in the South Sea Islands,' London, J Snow: 115-16); see above, p.64). It was exhibited as a centrepiece in the LMS museum (see above, p.71).
Little is known of the function or identity of these images. Duff (Duff, R., 1969, (ed), 'No sort of iron: culture of Cook's Polynesians', Christchurch: AGMANZ: 61) speculated that they represent Tangaroa the creator god, but without evidence. What is clear is that in their materials they combine the results of the skilled labour of men and women. They also have an explicit sexual aspect, thus embodying male and female productive and reproductive qualities (Hooper, S.J.P.,1997, 'Robert and Lisa Sainsbury collection', 3 vols. New Haven: Yale University Press and University of East Anglia, Norwich, II: 17).
-
Information from Pacific Art in Detail: This staff god is a potent combination of male and female elements. The wooden core, made by male carvers, has a large head at one end and originally terminated in a phallus. Smaller figures in profite appear to be prominently male. Jean Tekura Mason, curator of the Cook Islands Library and Museum Society suggest that the other figures facing outwards could depict women in childbirth. the barkcloth, made by women, not only protects the ancestral power ('mana) of the deity, but contains it within the different layers.
There are no other surviving large staff gods from the Cook Islands that retains their barkcloth wrapping as this one oes. This was probably one of the most sacred of Rarotonga's objects.
(See also Oc1919,10-14.1)
- Location
- Not on display
- Exhibition history
-
Exhibited:
2006-2007 28 Sept-7 Jan, London, BM, Power and Taboo
- Department
- Africa, Oceania and the Americas
- Registration number
- Oc1978,Q.845.c