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Rapanui. <em>Lizard Figure (Moko Miro)</em>, 19th century. Wood, 15 3/4 x 3 x 2 in. (40 x 7.6 x 5.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Expedition 1941, Frank L. Babbott Fund, 41.1277. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 41.1277_SL1.jpg)
Rapanui. Lizard Figure (Moko Miro), 19th century. Wood, 15 3/4 x 3 x 2 in. (40 x 7.6 x 5.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Expedition 1941, Frank L. Babbott Fund, 41.1277. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 41.1277_SL1.jpg)
Rapanui. <em>Lizard Figure (Moko Miro)</em>, 19th century. Wood, 15 3/4 x 3 x 2 in. (40 x 7.6 x 5.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Expedition 1941, Frank L. Babbott Fund, 41.1277. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 41.1277_SL1.jpg)

Rapanui. Lizard Figure (Moko Miro), 19th century. Wood, 15 3/4 x 3 x 2 in. (40 x 7.6 x 5.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Expedition 1941, Frank L. Babbott Fund, 41.1277. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 41.1277_SL1.jpg)

Rapanui. <em>Lizard Figure (Moko Miro)</em>, 19th century. Wood, 15 3/4 x 3 x 2 in. (40 x 7.6 x 5.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Expedition 1941, Frank L. Babbott Fund, 41.1277. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.41.1277_overall.jpg)

Rapanui. Lizard Figure (Moko Miro), 19th century. Wood, 15 3/4 x 3 x 2 in. (40 x 7.6 x 5.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Expedition 1941, Frank L. Babbott Fund, 41.1277. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.41.1277_overall.jpg)

Rapanui. <em>Lizard Figure (Moko Miro)</em>, 19th century. Wood, 15 3/4 x 3 x 2 in. (40 x 7.6 x 5.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Expedition 1941, Frank L. Babbott Fund, 41.1277. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.41.1277_print_top_bw.jpg)

Rapanui. Lizard Figure (Moko Miro), 19th century. Wood, 15 3/4 x 3 x 2 in. (40 x 7.6 x 5.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Expedition 1941, Frank L. Babbott Fund, 41.1277. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.41.1277_print_top_bw.jpg)

Rapanui. <em>Lizard Figure (Moko Miro)</em>, 19th century. Wood, 15 3/4 x 3 x 2 in. (40 x 7.6 x 5.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Expedition 1941, Frank L. Babbott Fund, 41.1277. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.41.1277_print_bottom_bw.jpg)

Rapanui. Lizard Figure (Moko Miro), 19th century. Wood, 15 3/4 x 3 x 2 in. (40 x 7.6 x 5.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Expedition 1941, Frank L. Babbott Fund, 41.1277. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.41.1277_print_bottom_bw.jpg)

Rapanui. <em>Lizard Figure (Moko Miro)</em>, 19th century. Wood, 15 3/4 x 3 x 2 in. (40 x 7.6 x 5.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Expedition 1941, Frank L. Babbott Fund, 41.1277. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.41.1277_bottom.jpg)

Rapanui. Lizard Figure (Moko Miro), 19th century. Wood, 15 3/4 x 3 x 2 in. (40 x 7.6 x 5.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Expedition 1941, Frank L. Babbott Fund, 41.1277. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.41.1277_bottom.jpg)

Rapanui. <em>Lizard Figure (Moko Miro)</em>, 19th century. Wood, 15 3/4 x 3 x 2 in. (40 x 7.6 x 5.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Expedition 1941, Frank L. Babbott Fund, 41.1277. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.41.1277_top.jpg)

Rapanui. Lizard Figure (Moko Miro), 19th century. Wood, 15 3/4 x 3 x 2 in. (40 x 7.6 x 5.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Expedition 1941, Frank L. Babbott Fund, 41.1277. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.41.1277_top.jpg)

Rapanui. <em>Lizard Figure (Moko Miro)</em>, 19th century. Wood, 15 3/4 x 3 x 2 in. (40 x 7.6 x 5.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Expedition 1941, Frank L. Babbott Fund, 41.1277. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.41.1277_detail.jpg)

Rapanui. Lizard Figure (Moko Miro), 19th century. Wood, 15 3/4 x 3 x 2 in. (40 x 7.6 x 5.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Expedition 1941, Frank L. Babbott Fund, 41.1277. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.41.1277_detail.jpg)

Rapanui. <em>Lizard Figure (Moko Miro)</em>, 19th century. Wood, 15 3/4 x 3 x 2 in. (40 x 7.6 x 5.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Expedition 1941, Frank L. Babbott Fund, 41.1277. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.41.1277_print_side_bw.jpg)

Rapanui. Lizard Figure (Moko Miro), 19th century. Wood, 15 3/4 x 3 x 2 in. (40 x 7.6 x 5.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Expedition 1941, Frank L. Babbott Fund, 41.1277. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.41.1277_print_side_bw.jpg)

Rapanui. <em>Lizard Figure (Moko Miro)</em>, 19th century. Wood, 15 3/4 x 3 x 2 in. (40 x 7.6 x 5.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Expedition 1941, Frank L. Babbott Fund, 41.1277. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , CUR.41.1277_detail03.jpg)

Rapanui. Lizard Figure (Moko Miro), 19th century. Wood, 15 3/4 x 3 x 2 in. (40 x 7.6 x 5.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Expedition 1941, Frank L. Babbott Fund, 41.1277. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , CUR.41.1277_detail03.jpg)

Rapanui. <em>Lizard Figure (Moko Miro)</em>, 19th century. Wood, 15 3/4 x 3 x 2 in. (40 x 7.6 x 5.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Expedition 1941, Frank L. Babbott Fund, 41.1277. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , CUR.41.1277_detail05.jpg)

Rapanui. Lizard Figure (Moko Miro), 19th century. Wood, 15 3/4 x 3 x 2 in. (40 x 7.6 x 5.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Expedition 1941, Frank L. Babbott Fund, 41.1277. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , CUR.41.1277_detail05.jpg)

Rapanui. <em>Lizard Figure (Moko Miro)</em>, 19th century. Wood, 15 3/4 x 3 x 2 in. (40 x 7.6 x 5.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Expedition 1941, Frank L. Babbott Fund, 41.1277. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , CUR.41.1277_detail04.jpg)

Rapanui. Lizard Figure (Moko Miro), 19th century. Wood, 15 3/4 x 3 x 2 in. (40 x 7.6 x 5.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Expedition 1941, Frank L. Babbott Fund, 41.1277. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , CUR.41.1277_detail04.jpg)

Rapanui. <em>Lizard Figure (Moko Miro)</em>, 19th century. Wood, 15 3/4 x 3 x 2 in. (40 x 7.6 x 5.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Expedition 1941, Frank L. Babbott Fund, 41.1277. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , CUR.41.1277_detail02.jpg)

Rapanui. Lizard Figure (Moko Miro), 19th century. Wood, 15 3/4 x 3 x 2 in. (40 x 7.6 x 5.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Expedition 1941, Frank L. Babbott Fund, 41.1277. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , CUR.41.1277_detail02.jpg)

Rapanui. <em>Lizard Figure (Moko Miro)</em>, 19th century. Wood, 15 3/4 x 3 x 2 in. (40 x 7.6 x 5.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Expedition 1941, Frank L. Babbott Fund, 41.1277. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , CUR.41.1277_detail01.jpg)

Rapanui. Lizard Figure (Moko Miro), 19th century. Wood, 15 3/4 x 3 x 2 in. (40 x 7.6 x 5.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Expedition 1941, Frank L. Babbott Fund, 41.1277. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , CUR.41.1277_detail01.jpg)

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Lizard Figure (Moko Miro)

Arts of the Pacific Islands

Lizard, human, and avian characteristics merge in these so-called lizard figures. Researchers have advanced many explanations regarding their use. The fact that the legs of of figures like these two form a handle shape suggests they were used as clubs. In addition, the figures may have been held in the hand or worn around the neck by dancers during feasts. Some moko miro were placed in the doorways of houses, eitiher suspended from the roof or set into the ground, to protect the inhabitants from harm. Originally, these figures had inlaid white shell eyes with obsidian pupils.

CULTURE Rapanui
MEDIUM Wood
  • Place Made: Rapa Nui (Easter Island), Valparaiso Region, Chile
    • DATES 19th century
    DIMENSIONS 15 3/4 x 3 x 2 in. (40 x 7.6 x 5.1 cm)  (show scale)
    COLLECTIONS Arts of the Pacific Islands
    ACCESSION NUMBER 41.1277
    CREDIT LINE Museum Expedition 1941, Frank L. Babbott Fund
    CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Carved wooden lizard with triangular head, protruding eyebrows and ribs, the crested spinal column with a fan-like termination, abdomen on level with under-jaw and chest, long thin arms extending across the chest, and legs extended to a tapering point
    MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view
    CAPTION Rapanui. Lizard Figure (Moko Miro), 19th century. Wood, 15 3/4 x 3 x 2 in. (40 x 7.6 x 5.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Expedition 1941, Frank L. Babbott Fund, 41.1277. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 41.1277_SL1.jpg)
    IMAGE overall, 41.1277_SL1.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph
    "CUR" at the beginning of an image file name means that the image was created by a curatorial staff member. These study images may be digital point-and-shoot photographs, when we don\'t yet have high-quality studio photography, or they may be scans of older negatives, slides, or photographic prints, providing historical documentation of the object.
    RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY
    You may download and use Brooklyn Museum images of this three-dimensional work in accordance with a Creative Commons license. Fair use, as understood under the United States Copyright Act, may also apply. Please include caption information from this page and credit the Brooklyn Museum. If you need a high resolution file, please fill out our online application form (charges apply). For further information about copyright, we recommend resources at the United States Library of Congress, Cornell University, Copyright and Cultural Institutions: Guidelines for U.S. Libraries, Archives, and Museums, and Copyright Watch. For more information about the Museum's rights project, including how rights types are assigned, please see our blog posts on copyright. If you have any information regarding this work and rights to it, please contact copyright@brooklynmuseum.org.
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    Rapanui. <em>Lizard Figure (Moko Miro)</em>, 19th century. Wood, 15 3/4 x 3 x 2 in. (40 x 7.6 x 5.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Expedition 1941, Frank L. Babbott Fund, 41.1277. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 41.1277_SL1.jpg)

    TAGS

    Rapa Nui
    Easter Island
    nature
    wood
    toy
    Chile

    TAGS

    Rapa Nui
    Easter Island
    nature
    wood
    toy
    Chile

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