Southeast Asia, Taiwan, Orchid Island (Lanyu), Tao (Yami) people, ca. mid 20th century CE. A charming hand-sculpted wooden model of a large canoe with three riders inside of it. The ends of the canoe reach upward in high points. The sides have incised motifs of anthropomorphic figures with what looks like stars and wave forms around and beside them. These are painted black and dark pink on a white background, while the interior is unpainted. This was made by the Tao people, who are Malayo-Polynesian, and who were mistakenly called the Yami by a Japanese anthropologist. The interior of their island is dense jungle on fertile volcanic soil, and many parts of it remain untouched; instead, people live near the coasts and travel via boats, with this probably representing the smaller "tatara" rather than the larger "chinedkulan." Size: 17.2" W x 7.9" H (43.7 cm x 20.1 cm)

Provenance: private Johnson collection, Marina Del Rey, California, USA

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#131780

Light wear on surface commensurate with age, including a few small chips and nicks. Pigment is in nice condition.