God Te Rongo and His Three Sons
Cook Islands
c. 1800-1900s

Carved from a single block of wood the head is one fourth of the total height. In addition the small figures that are incorporated must have been challenging to the artist. The chest is sunken to accomodate them and that exaggerates the stomach and penis. The head is an oval shape and the facial features are repeated in the smaller figures which are infants of the larger one. The surface of the wood is polished and smooth.

Images like this were carved for their religious rituals by artists called Ta'unga, which is also the word for priest. The specialist was trained through a long apprenticeship where he acquired the skill to control and attain the "mana", power, in the materials and tools he used.

A carving such as this was used and reused in religious rituals, passed down through generations, and only the group's most important leaders would have access to it.