Tongan Goddess Figure: Guardian of Pulotu and Ancestor Mediator
A superb Tongan goddess figure, of classical form with a rich patina. This wood figure May have been a vehicle through which the formidable deity Hikuleao manifested herself in the physical realm. The balance and restraint of the figure's compact posture, articulated through the angular geometry of her breasts, legs, and buttocks, belie her tremendous vigor. Said to guard the entrance to Pulotu, the watery, dark realm of the ancestors, Hikuleao held a ritual role as mediator and was associated with the Tuai Tonga, the earliest line of ruling chiefs, who were her earthly representatives, height 12.99 in., width 5.91 in., diameter 4.72 in.
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- Patination / Patina - In broad terms, patination refers to the exterior surface appearance of the timber, the effect of fading caused by exposure to sunlight and air over the course of a century or more, changing the piece to a soft, mellow colour.
As patina is very difficult to replicate, it is one of the most important guides to determining the age of furniture.
Patina is also the term applied to the bloom or film found on old bronzes due to oxidisation.
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