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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Any Jewelry, post: 419972, member: 2844&quot;]Thanks, toomany, I always love those early ones. I thought komo might be talking about moai with a closer resemblance to the genuine moai kavakava.</p><p><br /></p><p>I still think the quality of carving depends on the talent of the carver. And I agree, [USER=301]@komokwa[/USER] , they just don&#039;t make &#039;em like the 15th-17th century ones.</p><p>I guess it is the usual souvenir art story: in the 15th century carving was only done by those deemed good enough, possibly in a ritual setting. But when the locals found they could trade carvings for goods that were of more value to them (or for money), everyone who could hold a knife started to carve. Some still had talent, others didn&#039;t. And some just didn&#039;t want to spend time on perfection, when imperfection sold as well.</p><p>Easter Islanders were very poor, they had survived devastating epidemics, slavery, and loss of most of their traditions and culture. Under conditions like that aesthetics aren&#039;t that important.</p><p>Most antique moai were&nbsp; made for trade, to barter with passing sailors. In the 19th century they were also made to sell to tourists or outsiders who worked on the island.</p><p><br /></p><p>On this site are pictures of late 19th century wooden moai, some kavakava, some other types, from the Museo de Historia Natural de Valparaíso (Chile):</p><p><a href="http://www.mhnv.cl/636/w3-article-48919.html?_noredirect=1" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.mhnv.cl/636/w3-article-48919.html?_noredirect=1" rel="nofollow">http://www.mhnv.cl/636/w3-article-48919.html?_noredirect=1</a></p><p>Most moai shown on the site are made of that reddish wood mine is made of, but there is one that is made of that two-tone wood like Drew&#039;s:</p><p><img src="http://www.mhnv.cl/636/articles-48919_imagen_10.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>I must say, the carving on both Drew&#039;s 1938 moai, and my 1973-74 moai, is of better quality than this antique one. Which would support my theory of the talent of the carver.</p><p><br /></p><p>Here is some more info on the Valparaíso collection and woodcarving on Easter Island in general (in Spanish):</p><p><a href="http://www.mhnv.cl/sitio/Contenido/Colecciones-digitales/48904:Artesania-en-madera-de-Isla-de-Pascua" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.mhnv.cl/sitio/Contenido/Colecciones-digitales/48904:Artesania-en-madera-de-Isla-de-Pascua" rel="nofollow">http://www.mhnv.cl/sitio/Contenido/Colecciones-digitales/48904:Artesania-en-madera-de-Isla-de-Pascua</a>[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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