Oceania, Polynesia, American Samoa, ca. late 19th to early 20th century CE. A large, wooden model of an outrigger canoe with a fishing platform. It features five outrigger booms, nicely depicted here and attached with woven twine. This is called a 'iatolima ('iato, outrigger boom; lima, five), receiving its name from its number of booms. Beautiful incised carvings along one side show allegiance to the United States: two large, five-pointed stars flank an eagle crouched atop a shield. The motifs are surrounded by an incised decorative border. All incised motifs are filled with white, lime-based pigment. Size: 12.2" L x 36.5" W x 5.7" H (31 cm x 92.7 cm x 14.5 cm)

American vessels bearing military men, explorers, missionaries, and whalers stopped in Samoa throughout the 19th century, and, in 1899, the USA and Germany partitioned Samoa, with the eastern portion becoming American Samoa. Perhaps the decoration on the side of this model commemorates that event.

See a four boomed example from the catalogue of the Oakland Museum of California's "Pacific Worlds" show, May 30, 2015-January 3, 2016.

Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection; ex-Aguttes auction, Paris, France, April 6, 2017, Lot 452

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#152648

Intact. The wood is weathered, with some fissures, notably one on one end of the boat. Motifs are in very nice condition with much of the white pigment preserved.