How were human figures and faces represented in eastern Polynesian sculpture?

In eastern Polynesia, the representation of human figures and faces varied significantly by region, though they often served to depict deified ancestors or deities.12345

Regional Styles and Conventions

• Marquesas Islands: Art here is defined by strict conventionalization. Faces feature huge circular or oval eyes, a continuous curved brow line, and a nose formed by two broad semicircles, with a horizontal oblong mouth. Figures typically have dome-shaped or cylindrical heads, featureless torsos, and ponderous legs.1
• New Zealand (Māori): Two major styles existed. The northwestern style featured serpentine, intertwined forms with peaked heads and gaping mouths. The eastern style was more naturalistic, though it often featured oversized heads; some faces were portraits, while others were stylized with slanting eyes, distorted mouths, and protruding tongues.4
• Easter Island: Sculpture included both naturalistic male figures and extraordinary, emaciated, skull-like figures with jutting noses and bared teeth. Eyes were often indicated by obsidian disks set in bone rings.3
• Cook Islands: Figures often featured simplified, reduced facial features, such as noses expressed only by the upper lip. Some deities were represented by cylindrical shafts with arches representing human figures.5
• Hawaiian Islands: Figures, particularly in the Kona-district style, are characterized by massive, segmented bodies, proportionately large heads with thrusting chins, and exaggerated figure-eight-shaped mouths filled with teeth.6

Across these regions, figures were frequently adorned with tattoo patterns, and facial features were often integrated into broader geometric or symbolic designs.13476