Mortlock Islands Tapuanu Mask

I took these photos at the Honolulu Academy of Arts. I dig the photograph of these guys. Since these masks are from Micronesia they are technically not Tikis and should be posted in beyond Tiki, but, I thought "hey, close enough". The little plaque says

"The Tapuanu, meaning "Sacred Spirit" is the only mask Produced in Micronesia. They were created and cared for by members of the poutapuana secret society. Used in beachside and ceremonial house dances, they represent a a protective ancestor spirit. The Tapuana spirit was thought to safegaurd against Typhoons, thus garanteeing the continuation of the main food source"

[ Edited by: filslash 2008-09-12 12:54 ]

Hey Big Al.

That white mask looks a bit like you.

Beard and All.

Of course its an artistic interpretation.

Fantastic.

Palm-Farmer Johnny gave me a miniature version of this mask - same features and colors... sans beard.

We were quite curious about the origins.

He'll be glad to know that TC has provided the answer to our mystery.

I'll post photos of the smallish version soon and link to them from this thread.

Dig it!

On 2004-04-14 22:27, Monkeyman wrote:
That white mask looks a bit like you.

A bit? No way, man, that's a spittin' image! Well, except for that weird bun on the top of his head.

Quite cool, Al, thanks fer sharing it.

Al, you wouldn't know if that piece preceeds the arrival of European explorers, would you? I'm assuming it doesn't since it's in such good shape, but there's a great crackpot theory that Alexandrian Greeks settled parts of Polynesia, & that image looks pretty Greek to me...

A similar Mortlock mask (probably taken from the "Arts of the South Seas" book) was used as the logo Tiki of The Islander Motel near/in Seattle on PCH...can't find the matchbook right now....
Anybody know anything about this place?

You may be talking about this place?

http://www.tesseractseattle.com/islander_home.htm

It's out on the Washington coast, and it says its "Bamboo Room" has been there since the 60s (and sounds like it may be a little intact?). Seattle is actually about three hours away, but I suppose in the grand scheme of things, it's close. :)

p.s. -- PCH doesn't go anywhere near Seattle; Seattle is inland. It's on Puget Sound, not the Pacific Ocean.

I had it all backwards -- the best bed is the one that's stumbling distance from Tiki-Ti, or the Mai Kai, or the Lagoon Room, or the Alibi, or the Kon Tiki, or...
Critiki

[ Edited by: Humuhumu on 2004-04-15 12:56 ]

Yep, that sure sounds like the place (I like the description of the Bamboo Room), I'll let you know when I find the matchbook.

Bigbro,

Here's the sign from the Polynesian which uses the same mask.

I've also got a pamphlet from the Bishop Museum in Hawaii which shows a mask almost identical to the Polynesian's logo mask. I'll try to post pictures tomorrow.

Sabu

THAT'S it...the Islander had some other mask, but I meant the Polynesian, thanks.
It looks like they remodelled their sign though, is that lower postcard more recent?

Here's a photo from an old Bishop Museum guide that shows a very similar mask. It's on the "Hawaiian Hall" page, although I suspect it was just a nice filler image for the page and did not actually exist in the Hawaiian Hall. Could the owners of the Polynesian in Washington have seen this guide as well?

Bigbro - In my previous post, that first postcard of the Polynesian is the earlier image and probably dates from the 1950s-1960s. The sign mask in the second postcard is newer (1960s-1970s), and although any of us would drool today to find such a mask in a warehouse or thriftstore, it is not near as nice as the earlier sign, in my opinion.

Sabu

[ Edited by: Sabu The Coconut Boy on 2004-04-16 11:57 ]

Here's the one Palm Johnny gave me.

[ Edited by: pablus on 2004-08-10 12:58 ]

Okay, prepare to turn green.

I spent a few years in the Marshall Islands. A week back I was talking about my experiances with my wife's grandmother. She turns to me and says.. "You know I used to be the Director of Personnel for the Pacific Trust Territories in the Department of the Interior .. right?" I stammered.. "no". She then escorted me to her basement which was covered in Tapa cloth, masks, hand carved outrigger canoes, shell maps, love sticks, and the largest collection of shell leis I have ever seen. All gifts from Mirconesian rulers in the 1950s. Then she asked me if I wanted it all becuase nobody else would appreciate it!

OK, I know it is technically not Tiki, but DAMN! She has packed it up for me and I will get some photos.

Amazing how life sometimes just reaches over and gives you a wet passionate kiss.

I-Tiki

--- OK, I know it is technically not Tiki, but DAMN! She has packed it up for me and I will get some photos. ---

DAMN! is right, I-tiki; no need to apologize for lack of Tiki! Authentic Oceania wins over reproduction work any day of the week. Can't wait to see the pix! So happy for you!

You must have some good karma working for you, I-Tiki!