Situated in the heart of Polynesia, the island of Tahiti has long held a fascination for Westerners, particularly the philosophers of the Romantic movement, who held it to be an earthly paradise. In reality, however, the Tahitians, who referred (and refer) to themselves as “Maohi,” had the same virtues and failings found in any human society. Like many other Polynesian peoples, the Tahitians formerly lived in a rigidly stratified society. At the top were the ali’i, or ruling chiefly class, a hereditary aristocracy believed to be descended directly from the gods and to embody the sacred power, or mana, on earth. Below the ali’i were the ra’atira, landed farmers and warriors, and below them the manahune, or commoners. Mainly living along the coast, the Tahitians were dependent for their sustenance on both agriculture and the rich bounty of the seas that surrounded their island home.
As in many parts of Polynesia, Tahitian art served two primary functions—to honor and communicate with the diversity of gods, spirits, and ancestors of Tahitian religion and to adorn the bodies of chiefs, warriors, and other high-ranking individuals. Like other Polynesian societies, the Tahitians worshipped four primary gods—Ta’aroa, Tane, Tu, and Ro’o. However, at least in the late prehistoric and early historic period, a fifth god, ‘Oro, the god of war and son of Ta’aroa, reigned supreme. In Tahitian art, ‘Oro was represented by clublike images consisting of a wooden core wrapped in layers of woven coconut fiber on which facial and other anatomical features were only lightly delineated (1979.206.1481).
In addition to these more abstract ‘Oro images, the Tahitians also produced a variety of more naturalistic renditions of the human form (The British Museum). Some of them likely represented gods, spirits, or human ancestors, which were called upon to serve the community in time of need. Others served as canoe ornaments or were used in the practice of malevolent magic (The British Museum).
Another important focus of the arts in Tahiti was the adornment of chiefs, priests, warriors, and other high-status individuals. Certain items, such as intricately carved ceremonial fly whisks with handles of whale ivory (1978.412.875), wooden stools, and long girdles adorned with precious bird feathers, served to mark and emphasize their owner’s chiefly rank and sacred status.
Department of the Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “Tahiti.” In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/tahi/hd_tahi.htm (October 2003)
Barrow, Terence. The Art of Tahiti and the Neighbouring Society, Austral, and Cook Islands. London: Thames & Hudson, 1979.
Henry, Teuira. Ancient Tahiti. New York: Kraus Reprint, 1985.
Oliver, Douglas L. Ancient Tahitian Society. 3 vols. Honolulu: University Press of Hawai'i, 1974.
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Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “La Venta: Sacred Architecture.” (October 2001)
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Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “La Venta: Stone Sculpture.” (October 2001)
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Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “Monte Albán.” (October 2001)
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Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “Monte Albán: Sacred Architecture.” (October 2001)
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Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “Monte Albán: Stone Sculpture.” (October 2001)
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Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “Teotihuacan: Mural Painting.” (October 2001)
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Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “Teotihuacan: Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon.” (October 2001)
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Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “Valdivia Figurines.” (October 2004)
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Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “Hopewell (1–400 A.D.).” (October 2002)
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Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “Indian Knoll (3000–2000 B.C.).” (October 2003)
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Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “Poverty Point (2000–1000 B.C.).” (October 2003)
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Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “African Rock Art.” (October 2000)
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Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “African Rock Art: Tassili-n-Ajjer (?8000 B.C.–?).” (October 2000)
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Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “African Rock Art: The Coldstream Stone.” (October 2000)
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Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “Apollo 11 (ca. 25,500–23,500 B.C.) and Wonderwerk (ca. 8000 B.C.) Cave Stones.” (October 2000)
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Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “The Monumental Stelae of Aksum (3rd–4th Century).” (October 2000)
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Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “Tikal.” (October 2001)
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Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “Tikal: Sacred Architecture.” (October 2001)
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Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “Tikal: Stone Sculpture.” (October 2001)
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Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “Art and the Fulani/Fulbe People.” (October 2002)
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Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “Great Zimbabwe (11th–15th Century).” (October 2001)
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Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “Ife Pre-Pavement and Pavement Era (800–1000 A.D.).” (October 2001)
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Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “Foundations of Aksumite Civilization and Its Christian Legacy (1st–8th Century).” (October 2000)
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Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “Ife (from ca. 6th Century).” (originally published October 2000, last revised September 2014)
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Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “Inland Niger Delta.” (October 2000)
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Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “Lydenburg Heads (ca. 500 A.D.).” (October 2000)
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Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “Nok Terracottas (500 B.C.–200 A.D.).” (October 2000)
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Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “The Empires of the Western Sudan.” (October 2000)
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Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “The Empires of the Western Sudan: Ghana Empire.” (October 2000)
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Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “The Empires of the Western Sudan: Mali Empire.” (October 2000)
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Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “The Empires of the Western Sudan: Songhai Empire.” (October 2000)
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Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “The Trans-Saharan Gold Trade (7th–14th Century).” (October 2000)
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Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “Trade and the Spread of Islam in Africa.” (October 2001)
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Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “Mangarevan Sculpture.” (October 2003)
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Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “Cave Sculpture from the Karawari.” (October 2003)
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Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “The Fulani/Fulbe People.” (October 2002)
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Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “Great Serpent Mound.” (October 2002)
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Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “Ancient American Jade.” (October 2001)
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Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “Jade in Costa Rica.” (October 2001)
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Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “Jade in Mesoamerica.” (October 2001)
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Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “La Venta.” (October 2001)