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Staff god

18th–early 19th century

Not on view

Ancestral figures and flying foxes descend the central arm of this boldly carved ritual staff god from the Cook Islands. Their sequence, emphasized by the careful notching of the central figure’s spine, reinforces the close genealogical relationship between humans, their gods, and the natural world. Tightly bound with huge bolts of barkcloth when not in use, these staff gods were ritually activated when unwrapped by chiefs and priests during ceremonial rites.

Staff god, Wood (toa) — This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Staff god, Wood (toa)

Staff god, Wood (toa)

Staff god, Wood (toa)

Staff god, Wood (toa)

Staff god, Wood (toa)

This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. Scroll left to view more.

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Title: Staff god

Date: 18th–early 19th century

Geography: Cook Islands

Medium: Wood (toa)

Dimensions: H. 33 1/2 × W. 5 1/4 × D. 2 3/4 in. (85.1 × 13.3 × 7 cm)

Classification: Wood-Sculpture

Credit Line: Private collection, Gordon Sze

The Met

The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing at The Met

The Met's collection of art of the peoples of sub-Saharan Africa, the Pacific Islands, and North, Central, and South America comprises more than eleven thousand works of art of varied materials and types, representing diverse cultural traditions from as early as 3000 B.C.E. to the present.