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Stool (No'oanga)

Arts of the Pacific Islands

Graceful stools like this, carved from a single piece of wood, belonged to chiefs; all others sat on the floor. The scalloped corners of the stool occur on only one other known example. This unique detail may have been an original design, a local variation, or perhaps a later cosmetic solution to a chipped edge.

MEDIUM Wood
  • Place Made: Atiu, Cook Islands
  • DATES 19th century
    DIMENSIONS 5 x 16 3/4 x 8 1/4 in. (12.7 x 42.5 x 21 cm)  (show scale)
    ACCESSION NUMBER 75.78
    CREDIT LINE Caroline A.L. Pratt Fund and by exchange
    CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Rectangular shaped wooden stool with two upward curving sides; the four corners are cut-out in a simple curved design. It rests on four short legs which slope outward and end in platform feet, rounded at the front and coming to a point at the rear. The feet face outward at each end. Condition: Stool is deeply patinated with top surface having many old scratches, wear and several old chips on one edge. Underside of feet lack patina. Few scattered nicks on underside.
    MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view
    CAPTION Cook Islands Maori. Stool (No'oanga), 19th century. Wood, 5 x 16 3/4 x 8 1/4 in. (12.7 x 42.5 x 21 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Caroline A.L. Pratt Fund and by exchange, 75.78. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 75.78_bw.jpg)
    IMAGE overall, 75.78_bw.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph
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    RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY
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