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Arts and Crafts of the Cook Islands

Figure 215.—Wooden god from Atiu (British Mus., L.M.S., 94/35). a, wooden figure: height 350 mm.; width of head 105 mm. by 108 mm.; width lower end 113 mm.; head (1) dome-shaped with six vertical elliptical slots (2) crossed by middle bar (3), dividing head into six elliptical panels (4) which are carved on outer side; constricted neck (5) followed by vertical arches (6) on same vertical lines as head panels and radiating equally from common center to form upper series; upper ends of arches hav…

Figure 215.—Wooden god from Atiu (British Mus., L.M.S., 94/35). a, wooden figure: height 350 mm.; width of head 105 mm. by 108 mm.; width lower end 113 mm.; head (1) dome-shaped with six vertical elliptical slots (2) crossed by middle bar (3), dividing head into six elliptical panels (4) which are carved on outer side; constricted neck (5) followed by vertical arches (6) on same vertical lines as head panels and radiating equally from common center to form upper series; upper ends of arches have projecting cleats carved in lozenge-chevron motif (7); lower end of arch projects downward like two legs (8) with hole (9) pierced below them; interior of arches completely hollowed out; upper series followed by thick interspaces (10) before lower series of arches (11) which resemble upper but are reversed with legs (8) above and lozenge-chevron motif (7) below; interior of second set also hollowed out. Lower part, destroyed by rats, probably was a spatulate staff similar to those in the Mitiaro gods. b, braid decoration (12) in position, tied to crossbars in head slots and hanging down in inter-arch spaces; with lozenge-chevron motifs of arches showing (7). c, upper end of head, showing slots (2) with crossbars (3) and panels (4); head is hollow. d, side of head showing slots and panels with carved motifs on middle wider parts of panels; the six panels are alternately wide and narrow. e, carving motifs on panels: 1, chevrons on all three wide panels; all narrow panels with two horizontal raised bars on lower end but motif in middle varies; 2, notched triangle-chevron; 3, transverse bar and chevron; 4, bar-double triangle-chevron.

Figure 215.—Wooden god from Atiu (British Mus., L.M.S., 94/35). a, wooden figure: height 350 mm.; width of head 105 mm. by 108 mm.; width lower end 113 mm.; head (1) dome-shaped with six vertical elliptical slots (2) crossed by middle bar (3), dividing head into six elliptical panels (4) which are carved on outer side; constricted neck (5) followed by vertical arches (6) on same vertical lines as head panels and radiating equally from common center to form upper series; upper ends of arches have projecting cleats carved in lozenge-chevron motif (7); lower end of arch projects downward like two legs (8) with hole (9) pierced below them; interior of arches completely hollowed out; upper series followed by thick interspaces (10) before lower series of arches (11) which resemble upper but are reversed with legs (8) above and lozenge-chevron motif (7) below; interior of second set also hollowed out. Lower part, destroyed by rats, probably was a spatulate staff similar to those in the Mitiaro gods. b, braid decoration (12) in position, tied to crossbars in head slots and hanging down in inter-arch spaces; with lozenge-chevron motifs of arches showing (7). c, upper end of head, showing slots (2) with crossbars (3) and panels (4); head is hollow. d, side of head showing slots and panels with carved motifs on middle wider parts of panels; the six panels are alternately wide and narrow. e, carving motifs on panels: 1, chevrons on all three wide panels; all narrow panels with two horizontal raised bars on lower end but motif in middle varies; 2, notched triangle-chevron; 3, transverse bar and chevron; 4, bar-double triangle-chevron.