A superb Tongan goddess figure, of classical form with a rich patina. This wood figure May have been a vehicle through which the formidable deity Hikuleao 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, Hikuleao held a ritual role as mediator and was associated with the Tuai Tonga, the earliest line of ruling chiefs, who were her earthly representatives, height 33 cm, width 15 cm, diameter 12 cm