Stilt Step (Tapuvae)
Arts of the Pacific Islands
An important aspect of male competition in the Marquesas Islands, stilt games were either group races or individual competitions in which one opponent attempted to knock the stilts out from under his rival. Oral traditions record that some performers were so skilled that they were able to turn somersaults as they tested their athletic ability. During certain religious events, however, stilt demonstrations also measured a man's spiritual strength. Stilts were composed of a step attached with ornamental lashings to a shaft between five and seven feet long.
MEDIUM
Wood
DATES
late 18th century
DIMENSIONS
15 x 2 5/8 x 4 5/8 in. (38.1 x 6.7 x 11.7 cm)
(show scale)
ACCESSION NUMBER
56.6.106
CREDIT LINE
Gift of Arturo and Paul Peralta-Ramos
CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION
Carved wooden stilt step; upper tiki carved with arms and legs; lower carved upside down, back view, surface incised with parallel lines forming large diamonds
Condition: bottom broken off, scratched
MUSEUM LOCATION
This item is not on view
CAPTION
Marquesan. Stilt Step (Tapuvae), late 18th century. Wood, 15 x 2 5/8 x 4 5/8 in. (38.1 x 6.7 x 11.7 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Arturo and Paul Peralta-Ramos, 56.6.106. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 56.6.106_SL1.jpg)
IMAGE
overall, 56.6.106_SL1.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph
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RIGHTS STATEMENT
Creative Commons-BY
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