What Makes Cannibal Art Different
Authentic Marquesan carvings made in the Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia. Carved by Marquesan artists across the archipelago and shipped directly from Nuku Hiva. Not mass-produced, not replicas, not "inspired by."
Carved in the Marquesas • One-of-a-kind • No factories • Worldwide shipping with tracking • Sold with respect
Why this page exists
The global market is full of objects labeled "tiki" or "tribal" that are factory-made, copied, or carved far from Polynesia. They may look similar, but they are disconnected from living culture.
Cannibal Art exists to make authentic Marquesan art accessible to serious collectors worldwide, without dilution, shortcuts, or disrespect.
1) Made in the Marquesas - not "inspired by"
Our pieces are carved in the Marquesas Islands by local Marquesan artists who grew up inside this culture, across different islands of the archipelago. The work is curated and shipped from Nuku Hiva Island, where Cannibal Art is based. Not imitating the culture. Living it.
2) Traditional forms, but individual pieces
Marquesan carving follows ancestral forms and proportions. Because of this, some pieces may appear similar at first glance. However, no piece is ever replicated. Each carving is made freehand, by hand, with natural variation in form, detail, and expression. Even when a form is revisited, the result is always a distinct, individual work.
3) Art with context. Not objects without meaning
Collectors deserve more than a photo and a price. We share the name of each piece, what its form represents, and the cultural logic behind its design, so you understand what you’re owning, not just what you’re buying.
4) Created to be owned, not taken
We do not sell sacred objects. Our work is created intentionally for collectors, with respect for cultural boundaries and for what should never be commercialized. You never have to wonder whether something should have been sold.
5) Shipped with experience, not hope
The Marquesas Islands are remote, but we ship worldwide regularly from Nuku Hiva Island. Over the past six years, we have shipped Marquesan art to 28 countries around the world, working consistently with international buyers. Each piece is carefully packed and shipped with tracking, with real experience sending wood carvings internationally. Shipping with us is not a gamble.
The difference is visible
Authenticity is something you can see in the form, the finish, and the place the work comes from. These forms could only come from the Marquesas. They are shaped by land and culture.