Alia

Language: unknown
Language: unknown
Boat model

Antonie and Eugen Brandeis’s collection contains numerous model boats, a fact that bears witness to the important cultural-historical traditions of Pacific boat building. This model of a Samoan war canoe (alia) is also a prime example. Alia were up to thirty-five meter-long catamarans, equipped with sails, intended for long trips at sea and for battle. Only kings and chieftains commanded the necessary means to order such elaborate ships to be built.

Data Provider
Städtische Museen Freiburg
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Cataloguing data

Object type
Model Boat
Dimensions
Länge: 1350.0 mm, Höhe: 690.0 mm, Breite: 740.0 mm, Höhe: 900.0 mm
Material/Technique
Wood
Current location
Museum Natur und Mensch
Inventory number
II/0657

Provenance and sources

when
before 1900
where
Jaluit (place of manufacture)
who
Tupua Malietoa To'oa Mata'afa Iosefo (1832 - 6.2.1912) - Makers

when
24.04.1900
who
Tupua Malietoa To'oa Mata'afa Iosefo (1832 - 6.2.1912) - Former Possessors
Brandeis, Eugen - Former Possessors

where
Polynesia (location/origin)
Marshall Islands (location/origin)
who
Brandeis, Antonie - Collectors

Provenance
Donated by Eugen Brandeis (Imperial Governor of the Marshall Islands) April 1900, collected by Antonie Brandeis (Jaluit) /Donated by Eugen Brandeis (Imperial Governor of the Marshall Islands) April 1900, collected by Antonie Brandeis (Jaluit).

Object no. 1 (object list Antonie Brandeis, 1st consignment April 1900, SAF D.Sm 35/1): "Samoan war canoe. About 1/20 of the natural size. Wood of the breadfruit tree, sail: pandanus mat". Supplementary comment by Antonie Brandeis: "The model of a Samoan war canoe was made by King Mataafa of Samoa [note "by King Mataafa of Samoa" is underlined, unclear by whom] during his exile in Jaluit and was returned on his departure from Jaluit [note "Jaluit" is underlined]. "Jaluit" is underlined] in Sept. 98 to my husband [note "my husband" is underlined] as a gift" ("Bemerkungen zu den dem Museum zu Freiburg /B. übersandten ethnologischen Gegenständen aus den Marshallinseln. South Seas". SAF D.Sm 35/1).

This is the only object in the Brandeis collection for which a specific maker and previous owner are named. There are, however, differing versions of the provenance: a. made by Mata'afa himself and given to Eugen Brandeis (letter from Eugen Brandeis, 6 April 1899, SAF C3 241/1; Antonie Brandeis "Bemerkungen zu den dem Museum zu Freiburg /B. übersandten ethnologischen Gegenständen aus den Marshallinseln, Südsee", 14.12.1899, SAF D.Sm. 35/1),
b. made by people from Mata'afa's group and given to Antonie Brandeis (letter from Antonie Brandeis to unknown, 10 Sept. 1898, MNM),
c. made by Mata'afa (letter from Antonie Brandeis to unknown, 1 Dec. 1899, MNM).

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