Ti'i ke'a

This ti'i ke'a (carved human form) is a small, double figurine carved from a heavy close-grained volcanic stone. The figures have large round eyes in relief and arms across their chests. They are joined to each other through the back of their heads and buttocks. This type of tiki ke'a are very rare.

Ti'i (human form)
Ti'i are found frequently in the carved historical stonework of the Marquesas Islands. Stonework human figures range in size from the monumental to the very small and portable. Ti'i featured on ancient me'ae (sacred ceremonial sites) where they could be presented to etua (ancestral deities). They were also found in private households, where they were treasured personal items with sacred qualities.

Today, ti'i survive in the material culture of the Marquesas and Society Islands. They still decorate monuments, but also tourist items. Although their religious significance has diminished since the nineteenth century and the introduction of Christianity, they remain powerful signifiers of cultural identity in the region.

Acquisition
This ti'i ke‘a was collected during a yachting cruise in 1881 by the grandfather of Mr C J Lambert of Tunbridge Wells, England. In 1948, it was acquired by the Dominion Museum (Te Papa's predecessor) as part of the Oldman collection of Māori and Polynesian artefacts.

Reference

Mallon, Sean, and Grace Hutton. 2013. “Collecting, Exhibiting and Engaging with East Polynesia at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.” Tuhinga 24: 105–37