Print of steel engraving titled „Idoles de la Polinesie“.

Author unknown.

Engraved by unknown.

From the „Oceanie ou cinquieme partie du monde. Revue geographique et ethnographique de la Malaisie, de la Micronesie, de la Polynesie et de la Melanesie“. Firmin Didot Freres, Paris. 1836.

Polynesia is a subregion of Oceania, made up of over 1,000 islands scattered over the central and southern Pacific Ocean. The indigenous people who inhabit the islands of Polynesia are termed Polynesians and they share many similar traits including language family, culture, and beliefs. Historically, they were experienced sailors and used stars to navigate during the night.The term "Polynesia" was first used in 1756 by French writer Charles de Brosses, and originally applied to all the islands of the Pacific. In 1831, Jules Dumont d'Urville proposed a restriction on its use during a lecture to the Geographical Society of Paris. Historically, these islands have also been referred to as the South Sea Islands.

Approx. image size 14, 3 x 9, 4/20, 4 x 12, 2 cm.

Condition: good.