When a founding mother is depicted realistically, she is generally holding her arms up and to the side. The palms of her hands are either facing forwards or towards her head. In the first case the palms, like the upper body, are frequently decorated. Two decorative motifs dominate in the realistic luli - the boat and the tree. The boat usually has stem and stern posts curling powerfully inwards. Often this motif is on the statue's stomach or abdomen, although it can also be found in other places - the palms of the hands, for example. It is usually carved into the wood but sometimes is painted in a red tint. Examples can be seen in RMV 1476-11 and 1476-9.