Polynesian Art Photos

The peoples who navigated & settled isolated Pacific Islands are classified into three groups: Polynesians (inhabiting a triangle of islands from Hawai'i to Easter Island to New Zealand), Micronesians (Kiribati to Taiwam in northwestern Pacific) & Melanesians from Fiji to New Guinea in southwestern Pacific). This page features the art & culture of smaller islands. More significant islands are found on their own pages.

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Polynesian canoe from Yami of Imurud village, Botel Tobago near Taiwan at Five Continents Museum. Munich, Germany.Polynesian house posts & millet mortars from Yami of Imurud village, Botel Tobago near Taiwan at Five Continents Museum. Munich, Germany.Polynesian carved house fragment from Paiwan, Taiwan at Five Continents Museum. Munich, Germany.Collection of Polynesian clubs & spears at Yale Peabody Museum. New Haven, CT.
Polynesian canoe from Yami of Imurud village, Botel Tobago near Taiwan at Five Continents Museum. Munich, Germany.Polynesian house posts & millet mortars from Yami of Imurud village, Botel Tobago near Taiwan at Five Continents Museum. Munich, Germany.Polynesian carved house fragment from Paiwan, Taiwan at Five Continents Museum. Munich, Germany.Collection of Polynesian clubs & spears at Yale Peabody Museum. New Haven, CT.
Full suit of armor from Banaba islands of Gilbert archipelago at Five Continents Museum. Munich, Germany.Printed bark cloth from Samoa Polynesia at Five Continents Museum. Munich, Germany.Printed bark cloth from Samoa Polynesia at Five Continents Museum. Munich, Germany.Mat skirts of pandanus leaves & hibiscus bast from Marshall Islands Micronesia at Five Continents Museum. Munich, Germany.
Full suit of armor from Banaba islands of Gilbert archipelago (Kiribati) at Five Continents Museum. Munich, Germany.Printed bark cloth from Samoa Polynesia at Five Continents Museum. Munich, Germany.Printed bark cloth from Samoa Polynesia at Five Continents Museum. Munich, Germany.Mat skirts of pandanus leaves & hibiscus bast from Marshall Islands Micronesia at Five Continents Museum. Munich, Germany.
Model of outrigger boat from Marshall Islands Micronesia at Five Continents Museum. Munich, Germany.Navigation stick chart from Marshall Islands Micronesia at Five Continents Museum. Munich, Germany.Polynesian navigational stick chart at Orchid at Mauna Lani Hotel. Big Island of Hawaii, HI.Polynesian sailing chart from Marshall Islands, Micronesia at Memorial Art Gallery. Rochester, NY.
Model of outrigger boat from Marshall Islands Micronesia at Five Continents Museum. Munich, Germany.Navigation stick chart from Marshall Islands Micronesia at Five Continents Museum. Munich, Germany.Polynesian navigational stick chart at Orchid at Mauna Lani Hotel. Big Island of Hawaii, HI.Polynesian sailing chart (Rebbelith) (late 19th- early 20thC) from Marshall Islands, Micronesia at Memorial Art Gallery. Rochester, NY.
Crown from Marquesas Islands, Polynesia at Memorial Art Gallery. Rochester, NY.Wooden totem from central Polynesian islands at Bishop Museum. Honolulu, HI.Mask from New Caledonia at Bishop Museum. Honolulu, HI.Architecture of Polynesian Hall with south Pacific islands collection at Bishop Museum. Honolulu, HI.
Crown (late 19th- early 20thC) from Marquesas Islands, Polynesia at Memorial Art Gallery. Rochester, NY.Wooden totem from central Polynesian islands at Bishop Museum. Honolulu, HI.Mask from New Caledonia at Bishop Museum. Honolulu, HI.Architecture of Polynesian Hall with south Pacific islands collection at Bishop Museum. Honolulu, HI.
Grass hut tower in Fijian village at Polynesian Cultural Center. Laie, HI.Men's work house in Hawaiian village at Polynesian Cultural Center. Laie, HI.Chief's Dwelling in Fijian village at Polynesian Cultural Center. Laie, HI.Interior of Chief's Dwelling in Fijian village at Polynesian Cultural Center. Laie, HI.
Grass hut tower in Fijian village at Polynesian Cultural Center. Laie, HI.Men's work house (Hale Mua) in Hawaiian village at Polynesian Cultural Center. Laie, HI.Chief's Dwelling (Vale Levu) in Fijian village at Polynesian Cultural Center. Laie, HI.Interior of Chief's Dwelling in Fijian village at Polynesian Cultural Center. Laie, HI.
Collection of clubs & tapa bark cloths in Chief's Dwelling in Fijian village at Polynesian Cultural Center. Laie, HI.Patterned tapa bark cloths in Chief's Dwelling in Fijian village at Polynesian Cultural Center. Laie, HI.Family Dwelling in Fijian village at Polynesian Cultural Center. Laie, HI.Interior of Family Dwelling in Fijian village at Polynesian Cultural Center. Laie, HI.
Collection of clubs & tapa bark cloths in Chief's Dwelling in Fijian village at Polynesian Cultural Center. Laie, HI.Patterned tapa bark cloths in Chief's Dwelling in Fijian village at Polynesian Cultural Center. Laie, HI.Family Dwelling (Na Bure) in Fijian village at Polynesian Cultural Center. Laie, HI.Interior of Family Dwelling (Na Bure) in Fijian village at Polynesian Cultural Center. Laie, HI.
Family Dwelling in Tongan village at Polynesian Cultural Center. Laie, HI.Wood carver at Polynesian Cultural Center. Laie, HI.Polynesian wood carvings at Polynesian Cultural Center. Laie, HI.Polynesian wood carvings at Polynesian Cultural Center. Laie, HI.
Family Dwelling (Fale Lahi) in Tongan village at Polynesian Cultural Center. Laie, HI.Wood carver at Polynesian Cultural Center. Laie, HI.Polynesian wood carvings at Polynesian Cultural Center. Laie, HI.Polynesian wood carvings at Polynesian Cultural Center. Laie, HI.
Iosepa sailing canoe at Polynesian Cultural Center. Laie, HI.Salatasi skirt cloth of Tapa beaten fiber from Futuna island at Musée du quai Branly. Paris, France.Pounded bark Kapa cloth at Hana Cultural Center. Maui, HI.
Iosepa sailing canoe (wa'a kaulua) at Polynesian Cultural Center. Laie, HI.Salatasi skirt cloth of Tapa beaten fiber (end 19thC - early 20thC) from Futuna island at Musée du quai Branly. Paris, France.Pounded bark Kapa (Tapa) cloth at Hana Cultural Center. Maui, HI.
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All photos on this page are originals by & copyrighted by Jim Steinhart.
All rights reserved. Permission required to use.

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