Easter Island, Polynesia Rapa, Ceremonial Dance Paddle 1640 to 1820 AD (Carbon 14) Toromiro wood 88.4 x 20.9 x 1.5 cm Provenance : André Breton, 42 rue Fontaine, Paris 75009, N° 6144 of the André Breton auction, 2003. This sculpture is accompanied by the French ”Certificat pour un bien cuturel“ Exhibition history and literature reference: ”La Révolution Surréaliste“, Musée National d'Art Moderne - Centre Georges Pompidou, 2002, Paris; catalogue: Musée National d'Art Moderne - Centre Georges Pompidou, 2002, pp.310/311 ”Surrealismus“, 1914 – 1944. K20 Kunstsammlung Nordrhein - Westfalen, 2002, Düsseldorf An extremely rare ceremonial dance paddle, or rapa representing a highly stylized male figure in the form of a double blade paddle. The Janus face on the upper blade is represented by a twin arch forming the eyes and meeting in the center to create the nasal ridge. The extremities of the arches are decorated with large round ear ornaments. The lower blade, larger and more sensual in form, ends with a phallic finial showing the retracted foreskin. The slight curvature of this rapa gives it an elegance that is not found in the straight paddles. The anthropomorphic representation is perhaps that of MAKEMAKE, an important god figure in the local pantheon. The central section of the haft shows distinct wear and signs of usage and age. The penile finial is blunted and dented from the repeated ritual striking of the paddle against the ground or the altar.