AN EASTER ISLAND MALE FIGURE, moai kavakava, standing with the arms at the sides and free of the body, the hands placed on the thighs, the emaciated ribs in relief, the clavicles as a narrow double-curved ridge, notched spine, full belly above diminutive sex, short legs and small feet, the large head with inset obsidian discs within bone circlet eyes, high narrow nose, notched curved mouth and hatched brows, large ears, dark glossy patina, cracks at the back, 33cm. high

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AN EASTER ISLAND MALE FIGURE, moai kavakava, standing with the arms at the sides and free of the body, the hands placed on the thighs, the emaciated ribs in relief, the clavicles as a narrow double-curved ridge, notched spine, full belly above diminutive sex, short legs and small feet, the large head with inset obsidian discs within bone circlet eyes, high narrow nose, notched curved mouth and hatched brows, large ears, dark glossy patina, cracks at the back, 33cm. high

Lot Essay

This figure was sold in these rooms on 20 May 1969, lot 161.

Heyerdahl (1976) illustrates two shorter figures which are not of emaciated appearance, but which share many similar features with the present figure, especially in the treatment of the head. One is in the Staatliches Museum für Völkerkunde, Dresden, (pl.63.b), the other, which has similarly-hatched lips, is in the Museo Etnografico della Universidad de Buenos Aires (pl.64).

It is difficult to date Easter Island figures unless they have their provenience, or correspond very closely to figures which do, but in this instance we would agree with Oldman (1953) when he describes a small male figure collected by Capt. J. Toppin as a very old specimen (pl.79, no.351)

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