Combs (helu)
Throughout Polynesia, the head is understood to be the seat of an individual’s spiritual power (mana) and a potent site that connects the body with the ancestors. Made from the stems of the coconut leaflet, these comb-like ornaments were used to adorn the head and hair. Neatly tied together with fine strands of coconut fiber, they display intricate designs that are skillfully executed with finely plaited fiber and imported glass beads.
Artwork Details
- Title:Combs (helu)
- Date:19th century
- Geography:Tonga or Fiji
- Medium:Coconut leaflet midribs, coconut fiber, glass beads
- Classifications:Natural Substances, Wood-Implements
- Credit Line:Private collection, Mark Blackburn, Honolulu, Hawai’i
- Rights and Reproduction:Mark and Carolyn Blackburn Collection, Honolulu, Hawaiʻi
- Curatorial Department: The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing
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