Printed from Woolley & Wallis

Description

An Austral Islands stool no'oanga
Rurutu Island, Polynesia
the rectangular dished seat with concave sides carved stylised figures, on angled and curved edge tapering legs and inverted dome feet,
27.5cm high, 50.8cm long, 27.5cm wide.

No'oanga stools from Rurutu Island, the northern most island of the Austral archipelago, are distinct in their deep seats, four solid legs following the curve from the sides and terminating in button-like feet. There are two varieties of the treatment to the edges, either plain or with stylised carving, reminiscent of that seen on paddles, clubs, bowls and ladles. Both types are rare with only a few examples extant of each, see the British Museum (Oc1981, Q.1704) and the Peabody Museum, Massachusttes (95-20-70/48450) for examples of the above stool, with the carved edges.
Ranked as high status symbols, they were used by senior chiefs, royals and important dignitaries.