This extremely rare royal seat, called nohoga or nohoraga, in the Tuamotu language, would have been used only for ceremonies occurring inside the marae, or temple. The king, believed to be a living demi-god, was enthroned on a low, four-legged, rectangular stool. As no one was allowed to be higher then the kings head all others sat on the ground. It appears that the only illustrated examples are N° 5973 in the Bernice P. Bishop Museum, Honolulu (see Hiroa, 1944, p. 422) and one in the Musée de Tahiti et des Iles, Tahiti (see Lavondes, 1976. vol. 1, p. 347, pl. 34. N° 62). Both are of similar dimensions to the one presented here. The two flanges running along the longer outer edges of this seat however, seem unique. The reason of these thick edges remains undetermined: they are possibly structural reinforcements; they could be a decorative element of a much older and abandoned style; or possibly a later development following the first European contacts.

The only comparable elements to these flanges are those on two long benches from Aitutaki Island in the Cook Archipelago (see Hiroa, 1944. p. 48, pl. 19, fig. b. Inv. N°:12994, Auckland Museum, Auckland). Royal or chiefly seats were used in the Austral and Cook Islands, Tahiti, and the Tuamotus.

Possibly Napuka Island, Tuamotu Archipelago, Polynesia. Stone carved wood, probably TAMANU (Calophylum inophylum). An old restoration to the foot of one leg and two legs repaired. 51,2 x 25,5 x 19,3 cm. 18th century or earlier.

Ex. coll: Renée & Keith Free, Sydney.

Illustrated: Meyer, Anthony JP.: OCEANIC ART / OZEANISCHES KUNST / ART OCEANIEN. Köneman, Köln. 1995, fig.: 622, page 539.

Ref.: Hiroa, Te Rangi, (Peter H. Buck): ARTS AND CRAFTS OF THE COOK ISLANDS. Bulletin 179. Bernice P. Bishop Museum, Honolulu. 1944. Lavondes, Anne: LA CULTURE MATERIELLE EN POLYNESIE. Vol. 1-3. Thèse, Université René Descartes, Paris V. reprint ORSTOM. 1987.