Nofoaga seu lupe (Pigeon netting stool)

The nofoaga seu lupe (pigeon snaring stool) is an anomaly of 19th century Samoan material culture as the indigenous Samoan household did not have stools or chairs of any description. The stool consisted of a dubbed out seat with three legs, stabilised with crossbars. The legs were lashed with coconut fibre cord to lugs projecting from the underside of the seat.

Usage

Like the sport for which it was used, the stool is no longer found in Samoa. But an early reference to stools, not directly related to pigeon snaring comes from the Rverend J.B.Stair in the 1800s. He made note of the use of three legged stools in describing events at an assembly in the village of Leulumoega. His account says that in the district of A`ana the nine speakers of Leulumoega were privileged to sit on seats or three legged stools, which were placed at a little distance in front of their party, while the rest of the assembly, high and low, sat cross-legged upon the turf. The account doesn't elaborate on the use of the stools except to say that their use in this way was not common.

Pigeon hunting

More regular was the sport of pigeon hunting, where the stool was used in the fale seu or pigeon netting house. Built on large stone tia`ave deep in the forest and usually on a ridgeline, these temporary shelters made from vines were like hides, where the pigeon catcher could sit and await his prey. Decoy pigeons attached to cords and trained to land on a hand held perch were used by the catcher to attract wild pigeons out of the trees. The stool placed in the fale seu would allow the pigeon catcher to stand up quickly, sweeping his net to catch the wild pigeons flying within range of his hide.

Acquisition History

The acquisition history of this stool is not recorded.