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Synopsis
This world-renowned sculpture is a unique figure in Polynesian art. An image of a deified ancestor, A’a was created sometime before 1821 on the island of Rurutu. Thirty dynamic figures stud his body, and the excellence of his craftsmanship suggests that his hollow interior once contained something of great cultural importance. Research undertaken ahead of the forthcoming exhibition revealed a small red feather lodged inside the statue and encouraged the curators to begin a range of scientific tests that had been unavailable to previous generations. Their revelations about the meaning and function of A’a are published here for the first time.
A’a has been inspiring visitors since its arrival at the Museum in 1890, as much for its dramatic backstory as for its workmanship. The missionary John Williams saved the statue from being burned, but met an untimely end himself in the course of his work. The statue was a sensation when it arrived in England and inspired artists and poets for decades – Picasso was so struck by it that he had a copy made for himself. A’a is an idol in every sense of the word, and this book aims to inspire a new audience with his story.
Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1: A celebrity sculpture: new discoveries and old questions
Chapter 2: Mysteries, methods and meanings: on looking closely at A'a
Chapter 3: Gods, ancestors, feathers and bones in ancient Polynesia
Notes
Further Reading
Acknowledgements
Picture Credits
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
About the Author
Curator, Oceania, British Museum
Director, Sainsbury Research Unit, University of East Anglia
Associate Curator for Oceanic Art, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
- PublisherBritish Museum
- Publication date2016
- ISBN 10 0714151157
- ISBN 13 9780714151151
- BindingPaperback
- LanguageEnglish
- Edition number1
- Number of pages64
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A'a: a deity from Polynesia (Objects in Focus)
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ISBN 13: 9780714151151
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Paperback. Condition: Very Good. This world-renowned sculpture is a unique figure in Polynesian art. An image of a deified ancestor, Aa was created sometime before 1821 on the island of Rurutu. Thirty dynamic figures stud his body, and the excellence of his craftsmanship suggests that his hollow interior once contained something of great cultural importance. Research undertaken ahead of the forthcoming exhibition revealed a small red feather lodged inside the statue and encouraged the curators to begin a range of scientific tests that had been unavailable to previous generations. Their revelations about the meaning and function of Aa are published here for the first time. Aa has been inspiring visitors since its arrival at the Museum in 1890, as much for its dramatic backstory as for its workmanship. The missionary John Williams saved the statue from being burned, but met an untimely end himself in the course of his work. The statue was a sensation when it arrived in England and inspired artists and poets for decades Picasso was so struck by it that he had a copy made for himself. Aa is an idol in every sense of the word, and this book aims to inspire a new audience with his story. The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged. Seller Inventory # GOR010947854
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