Adrienne L. Kaeppler Books

Including both traditional and contemporary arts, this book introduces the rich artistic traditions of the Pacific island chains of Polynesia and Micronesia, traditions that have had a considerable impact on western art in the twentieth century through the influence of artists such as Gauguin.

Forty years ago, anthropologist Adrienne Kaeppler was working at Bishop Museum when she was challenged by a curatorial puzzle that launched her into a lifelong quest to determine the present day whereabouts and backstories of the artifacts of the Holophusicon, perhaps the most important museum in Europe in the late eighteenth century.

Captain James Cook (1728-1779) is renowned for leading three expeditions into the vast and uncharted waters of the Pacific Ocean. He was the first westerner to survey and map New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific Islands, forming the modern image of the world and finally defeating the idea of a mythical southern continent. This book documents Cooks voyages and reproduces around 500 original items collected by him and the international team of scientists and artists accompanying him. As early as the end of the 18th century, many of the ethnographic and natural history objects from diverse Pacific cultures, which were accrued during the three Cook voyages, were dispersed into various collections. Now, for the first time, they are reassembled here. The ethnographic exhibits are supplemented by magnificent paintings and drawings, which offer a fascinating insight into the explorers euphoric yet curious view of the exotic South Sea landscapes. Ship models, original sea charts and navigation instruments also provide a vivid introduction to the world of James Cooks voyages.

One of the first ethnographic studies of Hawai’i was by Eduard Arning. During his nearly three years in Hawai’i 1884-1886, he not only collected the 500 Hawaiian artefacts now in Berlin and presented in this publication, but also studied the customs of Hawaiians during the later part of the 19th century and especially their remembrances of times past. The Arning collection is one of the most important Hawaiian collections outside Hawai’i.