7 - Male figure, "moai tangata"

Male figure, "moai tangata" Rapa Nui. Polynesia / Rapa Nui (Easter Island) / Chile With base Wood. H 42.5 cm. Provenance: - Private French collection, Arles. - Unnamed private collection. - Bonhams, Los Angeles (December 5, 2017, Lot 35). - De Baecque, Paris, February 12, 2021, Lot 75. - HDV Piguet, Geneva, Dec. 4, 2023, Lot 3369. - Swiss private collection, Geneva. Described as follows at De Baecque (Paris, Feb. 12, 2021, Lot 75): "Moai Tangatanga statue, Easter Island. H. 42 cm "Is Easter Island the final cry, surfacing from the depths, of a submerged civilization, of an Oceanic Atlantis? These men who built these terraces without cement and carved these gods with a single tool.” (Paul Morand, preface to the June 21, 1935, exhibition catalog of the Trocadéro Museum of Ethnography dedicated to Easter Island). Of all the wooden sculptures of Rapa Nui, the naturalistic male figures known as moai tangata—with their enlarged heads, frontal posture, and prominent bellies—bear the closest formal resemblance to the island’s well-known stone figures. According to the study *Treasures of Easter Island* by Catherine and Michel Orliac, which provides detailed accounts of the number of surviving examples of each type of wooden figure created before 1880, the moai tangata is one of the rarest forms, accounting for only 3% of the known anthropomorphic wooden statuettes on Easter Island, with only ten examples documented. This rare male statue, with its imposing and static power, features a slight tilt of the torso—accentuated by a prominent belly—as if dictated by the continuity of the massive, rectangular face, from which emanates a sense of ferocity and authority. The striking facial expression is accentuated by the obsidian pupils encircled by bone, and by the movement of the mouth with its thin, drooping lips revealing a beautiful set of filed teeth. The top of the forehead is adorned with alternating rows of beautiful circular scarifications. The semi-bent legs lend the motionless figure the imminent ability to pounce. Kjellgren reveals the significance of this sacred object to its original owners on Rapa Nui, whom he depicts as ancestral figures or other powerful supernatural beings, who may have been venerated within the context of family or individual religious observances (2007: 320). Provenance: Bonhams auction, Los Angeles, December 5, 2017, lot 35. 7,000 / 10,000 €" ------------------------------------------ Described as follows at Bonhams (Los Angeles, Dec. 5, 2017, Lot 35) "STANDING MALE FIGURE, EASTER ISLAND, EARLY 20TH CENTURY Wood, shell, black wax; height 16 3/4 in (42.5 cm) Provenance: Private Collection, Arles, France Acquired from the above by the present owner $6,000–9,000 €5,200–7,800" CHF 6,000 / 8,000 Weight in grams: 957 Condition: Hammer Auctions places great importance on providing a careful and as precise as possible description of all lots offered in the catalog. Each lot is documented with multiple photographs intended to convey as comprehensive an impression as possible of its condition. This includes, in particular, visible signs of wear, irregularities, and age-related changes. We recommend that all interested parties and bidders carefully examine the photographs before placing a bid, as they form an essential part of the lot description. In addition, we recommend viewing the items in person before the auction, if possible. All condition descriptions are provided to the best of our knowledge and belief and are based on our professional assessment. They are provided for informational purposes only and do not claim to be exhaustive. In particular, there may be age- or wear-related characteristics that are neither explicitly mentioned nor visible in the photographs. Hammer Auctions assumes no liability for unintentional errors or omissions in the condition descriptions to the extent permitted by law. However, we always strive to resolve any ambiguities or concerns in a transparent, fair, and straightforward manner. Should a lot deviate in material respects from its catalog description, Hammer Auctions offers a return option in accordance with the following provisions. Buyers may report such a deviation in writing within seven (7) calendar days of receiving the lot. If the complaint is justified, the lot may be returned by mutual agreement. The purchase price will be refunded in full upon receipt and inspection of the returned item. We are always happy to assist you personally with any questions, additional photographs, or further information.