Figure — British Museum (Oc,+.2597)

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Reference: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/E_Oc-2597

Source author: British Museum

• Catalogue number: British Museum: Oc,+.2597

  Passage: Museum number

• Reported holder: British Museum

  Passage: Institutional catalogue record

• Classification: figure

  Passage: Object Type

• Made during: 19thC (before 1885)

  Passage: Production date

• Made at: Easter Island

  Passage: Production place

• Material: wood, bone, obsidian

  Passage: Materials

• Description: Standing female figure, carved of hard brown wood, very flat: eyes of obsidian surrounded by bone.

  Passage: Description

• Description: Height: 54.50 centimetres

  Passage: Dimensions

• Description: 'Presented by A.W. Franks Esq. 18 Sept. 1885. Brought by a sailor from Easter Island.' See comment on Oc,+.2595.

  Passage: Acquisition notes

• Description: Wood from this figure was tested in 2007 to determine the species but no identification was able to be reached. See Catherine Orliac (2007) 'Botanical Identification of 200 Easter Island Wood Carvings'. Leonardo Pakarati, visit to BM, June 2014: Leo described these figures as being related to fertility – the hand across the belly indicates pregnancy, the hand on the vagina relates to impregnation and birth; sometimes a hand to the breast relates to sustenance of the baby.

  Passage: Curator's comments

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Reference: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/image/1613753770

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Reference: Te Kuhane o Te Tupuna (Mahatua Producciones, 2015), edición con subtítulos en inglés, 01:02:44. https://guidedoc.tv/documentary/the-spirit-of-the-ancestors-documentary-film/

Source author: Leonardo Pakarati (guion y dirección); Paula Rossetti (producción)