Lot 127
South America, Chile, Easter Island / Rapa Nui, ca. 19th to early 20th century CE. This is a gorgeous and unique wooden cane or walking staff that is hand-carved featuring a bird and a man to symbolize an important event in Rapa Nui tradition: Tangata-manu. The lengthy staff has a rod-shaped body that is uncarved and highly polished, but just before the curved handle is a relief carving of a man's head - highly stylized with a sharp chin, goatee, grinning teeth, hooked nose, and bulging eyes under furrowed brow. Above is the bird head handle, the lengthy hooked beak forms the grip. Part of the Rapa Nui religious practice involves a ceremony or competition known as the Tangata-manu (bird-man), a tradition that marked the autumn equinox. Wood was scarce on the islands, and carvings of this size with such amazing preservation are rare glimpses into traditional wood artistry of the Rapa Nui. Size: 6" L x 2" W x 39.35" H (15.2 cm x 5.1 cm x 99.9 cm); 39.75" H (101 cm) on included custom stand.
The Tangata-manu ceremony is a fascinating practice that determined which clan won the right to collect eggs and birds from the nearby island where migratory birds nested - mainly revered terns known as manutara. The prophets had dreams which revealed which men of status could take part in the ritual, once chosen these men could then appoint 1 or 2 men of a lesser status known as hopu to participate on their behalf. The hopu were tasked with finding an egg laid by a tern on Moto Nui, a separate island that the men had to swim to - many contestants drowned or were killed by sharks before reaching the island, and once ashore they had to climb a sheer cliff face to reach the bird nests - risking falling to their death - all this before they could even begin the egg hunt! No wonder the elite chose not to participate themselves in this part of the honorific competition. Once the egg was found, the hopu would shout to the main island that the hunt was over, and the patron of the victor hopu was announced as the Tangata-manu. The hopus who actually preformed these tasks were not considered the winners, and the hopu that found the egg swam back alone, carrying the egg in a basket on his head. Once the egg was brought back and presented to the Tangata-manu, he was awarded gifts and his clan won the sole right to that season's bird eggs and fledglings from Motu Nui Island. The Tangata-manu then went into seclusion for a year in a ceremonial house where he was considered sacred and allowed only to eat and sleep, no other activities were permitted, until the next year's Tangata-manu contest. This staff is a wonderful reminder of this intriguing tradition that has not been practiced since 1888.
Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection, acquired from 1995 to 2010
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Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.
#168524
- Condition: Stable pressure fissures along the rod and minor surface abrasions and nicks to man's head and bird. Minor signs of use and abrasion to tip of staff. Intact and very good. Beautiful patina throughout. Wood carving of this size is rare.
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