Ancient Polynesian (Unknown)
Polynesian
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Ancient Polynesian sculpture encompasses the carved figures, architectural elements, and ritual objects produced across the vast Pacific island region from roughly 1000 CE onward. Polynesian artists worked primarily in wood, stone, and bone, creating works that served religious, genealogical, and ceremonial functions.
The Moai of Easter Island (Rapa Nui), nearly 1,000 monolithic stone figures carved between the 13th and 16th centuries, are the most famous Polynesian sculptures. Hawaiian temple figures (akua ki'i), Maori carved meeting houses with their spiraling patterns, and Marquesan tikis each reflect distinct island traditions. Polynesian carving tends toward bold, simplified forms with strong geometric stylization.
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About Ancient Polynesian (Unknown)
Polynesian sculpture includes carved wood and stone figures from across the Pacific islands. The most famous are the Moai of Easter Island, but traditions span Hawaii, New Zealand (Maori carving), the Marquesas, and Tonga.
The Bishop Museum in Honolulu, Te Papa Tongarewa in Wellington, and the Musée du Quai Branly in Paris hold major collections. The Metropolitan Museum of Art and British Museum also display Polynesian works.
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