Rapa Nui Moai Kava Kava figure carved in wood

Moai Kava Kava figure, a traditional figure from the Rapa Nui culture, hand-carved in wood.

It is a skeletal male figure with a sunken belly and prominent ribs, which is precisely what the Rapanui word "Kava Kava" means. The body is long, the limbs short, and the feet are small. The face is tapered, with thin cheeks and an aquiline profile, often ending in a small beard. It has long, pointed ears and wide-open, frightened eyes. They are made of bone and obsidian. Some have high reliefs on the skull, others feature a kind of helmet or hat, and sometimes they are adorned with human hair.

These figures are a stark representation of the aku aku , or otherworldly spirits. It is said that when a person breaks a taboo (" tapu " in the Rapa Nui language), a sacred rule, after death, their soul transforms into an aku aku and wanders between the physical and spiritual worlds.

Material: Wood.

Origin: Rapa Nui.

Dimensions: 7 x 7 x 50 cm high.

Condition: In good condition.