Selu la'au (wooden comb)

item details

NameSelu la'au (wooden comb)

ProductionGalumalemana Steven Percival; maker/artist; 2007; Apia

Classificationcombs

Materialswood, glass, paper

Techniqueswoodcarving

DimensionsOverall: 64mm (width), 248mm (height)

Registration NumberFE012372

Credit lineGift of Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi, 2009

Overview

Selu la’au or selu pau as they are commonly known, are carved wooden combs made in Samoa. They were very popular in the late 1800s and early 1900s, and were worn in the hair for ornamental purposes. Artisans carved them using a fretwork technique requiring the cutting of holes into the piece of thin wood to create intricate patterns. They were made from wood of a variety of tree species including pau (Manikara hoshinoi), manapau (Mammea odorata), toi (Alphitonia zizyphoides), toa (Casuarina equisetifolia) or ifilele (Intsia bijuga). These timbers were also used to carve other items like household furniture, va’a (canoe) and foe (paddles).

A presentation piece

This selu la’au (wooden comb) was made in 2007 by Galumalemana Steven Percival of the Tiapapata Art Centre in Samoa. It has been mounted in a wooden frame as a presentation piece and labelled "Selu Samoa". Galumalemana made the comb from a timber species called Samoan teak, known locally as "kiki", which is perhaps a transliteration of "teak". A brief history of wooden combs is included in the frame alongside a photograph of Masiofo Va’aiga Tamasese, a female relation of the Tamasese family wearing a selu in her hair, circa 1905.

Acquisition History

This selu la’au was presented to the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa by the current Head of State of The Independent State of Samoa Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese in December 2007. The occasion was the opening of the exhibition "Tangata o le Moana; the story of Pacific people in New Zealand". It was also an acknowledgement of the presence of the 'ie toga (fine mat) "Le Ageagea o Tumua" held by Te Papa which was gifted to the New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark in 2002.

References

Buck, P. Samoan Material Culture. (Honolulu: The Museum, 1930)

Kramer, A. The Samoa Islands : an outline of a monograph with particular consideration of German Samoa / translated by Theodore Verhaaren. (Auckland: Polynesian Press, 1994)

Parham, B. Plants of Samoa: a guide to their local and scientific names with authorities; with notes on their uses, domestic, traditional and economic. (Wellington: Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, 1972)

Whistler, A. Plants in Samoan culture: the ethnobotany of Samoa. (Honolulu: Isle Botanica, 2000)