Moai taŋata, Viña del Mar — 1039

Diego Muñoz collection record for Moai taŋata, Viña del Mar — 1039 (1 claim)

Source author: Diego Muñoz

Description: The documentation of Museo Fonck does not allow to identify the origin and the creator of this piece. However, by comparing it with other carvings collected in 1934 by the Franco-Belgian expedition, it can be determined that this piece was made by Juan Tepano. He was the most important collaborator of many researchers: in 1911 he was guide and interpreter of Walter Knoche, in 1914 interpreter and assistant of Katherine Routledge and in 1934 he was the main informant of Alfred Métraux. Tepano was born around 1876, in 1898 he traveled to Chile, accompanying the Rapanui king Riro Kainga. He did military service in the Regimiento Maipo in Valparaiso and returned to Rapa Nui in 1900. In 1902 he was named cacique by the captain of the ship Baquedano Basilio Rojas. According to Métraux and Lavachery, Tepano developed his own sculptural style, which can be seen in this piece from the Museo Fonck.

Indigen Recollecting Rapa Nui Gallery (8 claims)

Reported holding and location