Post Figure (poutokomanawa), c. 1840
Ngāti Kahungunu Māoriexpand_more
Wood, paua shellexpand_more
Gift of Curtis Galleries, Inc.expand_more 2001.65a,b
On View in Gallery 256expand_more
This post figure, called poutokomanawa, welcomed guests to a Maori communal house. It portrays an ancestor whose spiritual power infused the building. The unique tattoo pattern carved on his face identified him.
Adorning the body with tattoos is an important art throughout Polynesia and Micronesia. Although its cultural significance and aesthetic qualities vary greatly, many groups value tattooing as a sign of personal and social identity.
The figure's proportions represent Maori beliefs about the different types of energy residing in the human body: the head is scaled larger than life as it is considered the center of personal power, and the hands rest on the stomach to emphasize the life force that links spirits to humans.
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Details
- Title
- Post Figure (poutokomanawa)
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- 2001.65a,b
- Curator Approved
This record is from historic documentation and may not have been reviewed by a curator, so may be inaccurate or incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
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