What is this on some Marquesan tiki's noses?? - General Tiki

B bigbrotiki Tiki Socialite Tiki Island, above the Silverlake Joined: Mar 25, 2002 Posts: 11621	B bigbrotiki Posted posted on Fri, Dec 9, 2005 9:48 AM The Marquesans (like the Maori) had a fondness for geometric surface ornamentation, be it on wood, tapa, or on human skin. Looking at their completely covered war clubs or wooden vessels, one could even speak of a "horror vacuii", a "fear of empty spaces". Many designs had a meaning, like Tikis, stylized human figures or lizards, but often they were just patterns. In tattoos, the figures sometimes denoted rank and status of the wearer. There might even have been a language like the Rongo Rongo, which eludes us now. Yet I could not find that square spiral in any literature, not even in the standard work, Karl von den Steinen's "The Marquesans and Their Art" (of which a reprint was given to me by Thor Heyerdahl's assistant Don Ryan [boast!] :roll: ). It first appears in the Oceanic Arts catalog on copies of "Tahitian" (really Marquesan) Tiki house posts, so it must be a simplification of the Marquesan style, free form ornamentation, and thus is pure Polynesian pop.

The Marquesans (like the Maori) had a fondness for geometric surface ornamentation, be it on wood, tapa, or on human skin. Looking at their completely covered war clubs or wooden vessels, one could even speak of a "horror vacuii", a "fear of empty spaces".

Many designs had a meaning, like Tikis, stylized human figures or lizards, but often they were just patterns. In tattoos, the figures sometimes denoted rank and status of the wearer. There might even have been a language like the Rongo Rongo, which eludes us now.

Yet I could not find that square spiral in any literature, not even in the standard work, Karl von den Steinen's "The Marquesans and Their Art" (of which a reprint was given to me by Thor Heyerdahl's assistant Don Ryan [boast!] :roll: ).

It first appears in the Oceanic Arts catalog on copies of "Tahitian" (really Marquesan) Tiki house posts, so it must be a simplification of the Marquesan style, free form ornamentation, and thus is pure Polynesian pop.

Post #202314 by bigbrotiki on Fri, Dec 9, 2005 9:48 AM