Tapuvae stilt stirrup

Reference : 42434

Tapuvae, representing a standing male tiki,
Both hands supporting the stirrup, the body as well as the stirrup covered with various geometric motifs.
Wood with dark and shiny patina.
Dimensions : Height 34,5 cm
Presumed period : ^19th century
Marquesas Islands
French Polynesia

Provenance :
French private collection

Exhibition :
Galerie Schoffel, Catalogue Tefaf Maastrich 2024

More details

In the Marquesas Islands, aristocratic young men walked, ran and danced on stilts as part of their games, or during certain ceremonies, notably funerals. Their feet rested on tapuvae stirrups sculpted with anthropomorphic figures(tiki).

The special feature of our model is the position of both hands supporting the stirrup.

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