Allan Tuara
Allan Tuara, of Mangaian & Rarotongan descent and a resident of Mangaia, has a passion for art and Mangaian history. His artistic skills and his use of traditional Cook Islands motifs are evident in his elaborately carved Mangaian ceremonial adzes.
In pre missionary times elaborately carved adzes played an important part in Mangaian traditional ceremonies. They were revered by all as they symbolised rank and commanded respect holding much spiritual power and significance.
Allan produces replicas of traditional Mangaian Ceremonial Adzes in particular and as close to the original designs as possible. This passion stems from a time when he first saw prints of old Mangaian carvings that missionaries had taken away. It touched him and he was saddened by the fact that all this fine art was lost from us and that there is not a single one left on Mangaia. Many of the original adzes taken from Mangaia can now only be seen in Museums in other countries around the world.
Allan’s wooden carvings are an attempt to keep the precious and treasured Mangaian art alive. Many long hours have gone into creating these Mangaian Ceremonial Adzes. Each Mangaian motif has been intricately carved, every strand of sennit carefully braided, and each basalt adze head carefully chiselled, by hand.
Today Mangaian ceremonial adzes are precious and sort after art pieces and have become collector’s items. They are also cherished heirlooms passed down from one generation to the next. Allan’s art is sold exclusively at Moana Gems. For more information please email info@moanagems.co.ck