A superb Tongan goddess figure, of classical form with a rich patina. This wood figure May have been a vehicle through hich the formidable deity Hikule'o manifested herself in the physical realm. The balance and restraint of the figure's compact posture, articulated through the angular geometry of her breasts, legs, and buttocks, belie her tremendous vigor. Said to guard the entrance to Pulotu, the watery, dark realm of the ancestors, Hikule'o held a ritual role as mediator and was associated with the Tu'i Tonga, the earliest line of ruling chiefs, who were her earthly representatives. Height 40 cm, width 20 cm, depth 14 cm