There are a diverse collection of objects that represent the

culture and history of the Maori people of New Zealand. These artefacts vary in

type, style, and function, and include the following:

Weapons: Maori weapons were traditionally made from wood,

bone, and stone, and included clubs, spears, and weapons with serrated edges,

such as the patu and mere.

Carvings: Maori carvings are highly symbolic and often

depict stories and legends from Maori mythology. These carvings can be found on

buildings, canoes, and other objects, and are often intricately detailed.

Jewellery: Maori jewellery often features intricate designs

and is made from materials such as bone, stone, and shell. Pendants, earrings,

and bracelets are all common forms of Maori jewellery.

Taonga puoro (musical instruments): These are traditional

Maori musical instruments, such as the p?t?tara (conch shell trumpet) and the

k?auau (flute). Maori music is an important more...

Under the New Zealand Protected Objects Act 1975, administered by the New Zealand Ministry for Culture & Heritage, the sale, trade, export and ownership of some Maori artefact are regulated
Objects over 50 years old that also have Maori cultural significance must be inspected by Ministry for Culture & Heritage, and if significant the object will be allocated a "Y" number, a unique identification number. Artefacts that have a Y number can only be purchased by those that are registered collectors with the Ministry for Culture and Heritage.

23 items found:

These items have been sold, and the description, image and price are for reference purposes only.

Kaitaka Aronui, mid 19th century of classic traditional style…

Kaitaka Aronui, mid 19th century of classic traditional style woven from muka [fine flax] with narrow side borders and deeper lower border of taniko. The wide lower border of striking diamond shaped patterning with the traditional dyed fibres highlighted…

A small muka and feather cape, framed, considerable feather…

Muka and Feather Cape Framed with Losses

A small muka and feather cape, framed, considerable feather losses, frame, 67 cm x 103 cm

A pair of old handcrafted Maori mother and child dolls, painted…

Maori Mother and Child Dolls

A pair of old handcrafted Maori mother and child dolls, painted composition heads, flax puipui, woollen and cotton cloak and dress, height 22 cm

A rare and important pake, rain cape, Aotearoa, pre-contact…

Rare Pre-Contact Rain Cape from Aotearoa

A rare and important pake, rain cape, Aotearoa, pre-contact period. One of the rarest and finest examples to be seen anywhere in the world. This particular example was removed from Aotearoa immediately following the 1886 eruption of Mt Tarawera by…

A child's cape, Aotearoa, Kakahu Tamariki (child's cloak) -…

Child's Natural Fibre Cloak with Checkerboard Design

A child's cape, Aotearoa, Kakahu Tamariki (child's cloak) - finely woven early child's or infants cloak in all natural fibres. The main body of this kakahu is made entirely from muka and is adorned with tessellating squares in natural and died fibres to…

19th century Pake ( rain cape), double pair twining. Robust…

Double Twined Pake Rain Cape with Flax Thatching

19th century Pake ( rain cape), double pair twining. Robust plaited finish at top edge and with red and blue dyed coloration. Exposed surface beautifully thatched with precise rows of brown flax leaf, the bottom fringe with dyed muka conforming to the…

A woven muka band, Aotearoa, made from natural muka (flax…

Natural Muka Woven Band with Diamond Decoration

A woven muka band, Aotearoa, made from natural muka (flax fibre). This band employs cloak a making technique called single pair twinning. The surface decoration is achieved with twisted warps to create large diamond shapes. Each end of the band has two…

Cloak) Korowai (Maori cloak), woven from candlewick with a…

Multicolored Hen Feather Korowai

Cloak) Korowai (Maori cloak), woven from candlewick with a coloured cotton boarder. Decorated with multicolored hen feathers, 75 x 75 cm

A superb korowai. The korowai exemplifies whatu, finger weft…

Exquisite Korowai Cloak with Finger Weft Twining

A superb korowai. The korowai exemplifies whatu, finger weft twining. Whatu is artform that has been passed through generational knowledge since the ancestral migration to Aotearoa some 900 years ago. The body of the cloak is woven with fux flax and…

A late 19th century flax korowai (cloak), the muka kaupapa…

Late 19th Century Flax Korowai Cloak

A late 19th century flax korowai (cloak), the muka kaupapa (foundation) crafted with double pair twining, decorated with black hukahuaka thrums. The decorative boarder woven in yellow, black, red, and blue wool. Framed and mounted in a display case, 125 x…

A late 19th / early 20th century Maori woven candlewick korowai…

Maori Candlewick Korowai Cloak with Taniko Border

A late 19th / early 20th century Maori woven candlewick korowai cloak, adorned with yarn hukahuka (thrums), collar of woollen thrums, bordered with decorative domestic fowl feathers and coloured wool edging. Gifted to our vendor's grandfather c.1906 for…

Possible Miri Maori Lands mother and child composition head on…

Miri Maori Mother and Child Doll

Possible Miri Maori Lands mother and child composition head on rag body with flax skirt and cotton cape 23 cm

Early Kaitaka fine flax cloak of muka twining, plain body with…

Early Kaitaka Fine Flax Cloak with Taniko Border

Early Kaitaka fine flax cloak of muka twining, plain body with narrow side and deep bottom taniko border of classic zig zag (aramoana) and triangular (aronui) patterns of black dyed muka and brightly died wool, height 127 cm, length 174 cm

Hieke - rare rain cloak double pair twining, robust plaited…

Harakeke Rain Cloak with Robust Plaited Finish

Hieke - rare rain cloak double pair twining, robust plaited finish to the top edge, expertly woven from harakeke and natural fibres

A Maori woven muka (worked flax) cape, twin ply construction,…

Maori Feathered Muka Cape and Child's Cape

A Maori woven muka (worked flax) cape, twin ply construction, decorated with hukahuka thrums and borders of green iridescent, brown and white feathers. Further thrums form a dense collar. 94 cm x 930. Along with a small woven flax and feather Maori…

Korowai Cloak. This korowai has doublepair twining with two…

Feathered Korowai Cloak

Korowai Cloak. This korowai has doublepair twining with two areas of tailored shaping; crafted from candlewick and highlighted with a border of feathers the central area with rectangular and triangular feathered designs. Height 103 cm. Width 112 cm.…

Rare Rapaki Cape. This prestigious shoulder cape with robust…

Rare Rapaki Cape

Rare Rapaki Cape. This prestigious shoulder cape with robust plaited shoulder border the muka kaupapa (with double pair twining) extends from 34 cm. Areas of tailored shaping evident. Top band extending approximately 95 cm in length with red, blue and…

Early Kaitaka Paepaeroa cloak. Kaitaka is the name given to the…

Early Kaitaka Paepaeroa Cloak: Unbeaten Flax, Masterful Taniko

Early Kaitaka Paepaeroa cloak. Kaitaka is the name given to the prestigious cloaks that were recorded and collected by early European explorers. They were woven using unbeaten New Zealand flax; thus, the flax was allowed to retain its shining quality. The…

Oriental woven cloak. Red grosgrain with gilt thread decoration.

Gilt-Threaded Red Oriental Cloak

Oriental woven cloak. Red grosgrain with gilt thread decoration.

Childs woven cloak. Early muka woven cloak with decorative dyed…

Child's Woven Cloak with Dyed Tassels and Chequered Design

Childs woven cloak. Early muka woven cloak with decorative dyed tassels and looped chequered design. Two attached twisted cord tags at top for attachment. Height 41 cm. Width 70 cm.

A good 19th century Maori woven muka cloak, the woven banding…

Maori Muka Cloak with Wool Banding and Peacock Feathers

A good 19th century Maori woven muka cloak, the woven banding showing tapering for the shoulders, entirely decorated with linial stitched wool banding, some distress, in tones of red, green and black, single blue band to the top, alternating green and red…

Late 19th century fine flax Maori cloak (Korowai) with Touches…

Fine Flax Maori Cloak with Wool Decoration

Late 19th century fine flax Maori cloak (Korowai) with Touches of wool decoration. A traditional hand woven Maori cloak made of dressed phormium (New Zealand flax, Harakeke). The warp-whenu, and weft-aho, are worked in double finger pair twining - whatu…

An interesting and notable 19th century Maori carved walking…

Maori Walking Stick with Janus-Faced Figure and Inlaid Eyes

An interesting and notable 19th century Maori carved walking stick originally owned by the colonial sawmiller James Robson, husband of Mere Ngamai (ii) A close relation of the famous chief Te Wharepouri, and by descent to the estate of our vendor.…