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.

25 items found:

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

Two woven masks, Sepik Region, Papua New Guinea, comprising a…

Sepik Region Woven Masks

Two woven masks, Sepik Region, Papua New Guinea, comprising a woven Gable mask, Black Water Lakes Sepik region, decorated with natural earth pigments and fibre and a woven reed yam mask, Maprik Hills, Sepik Region, the largest mask 20 cm high

A gable mask, carved wood and shell with earth pigments, Papua…

Papua New Guinea Gable Mask

A gable mask, carved wood and shell with earth pigments, Papua New Guinea, 63 cm high

New Zealand folk art, carving, on a Maori theme featuring a…

Maori-themed carved folk art with central tekoteko figure

New Zealand folk art, carving, on a Maori theme featuring a central tekoteko figure atop a koruru face and a manaia head to the top section, height 90.5 cm. Provenance: formerly in the John Perry collection

A 20th century Maori carved decorative panel, with wheku and…

Maori Carved Panel with Wheku and Koruru Heads

A 20th century Maori carved decorative panel, with wheku and koruru heads to either end with inlaid paua eyes. Length 75 cm

An early 20th century Maori carved candle stand, Rotorua school,…

Maori Carved Candle Stand with Wheku and Koruru Heads

An early 20th century Maori carved candle stand, Rotorua school, tapering cylindrical shape carved with wheku and koruru heads, raised from a circular base carved with kowhaiwhai-like designs, paua insert eyes, height 190

An early 20th century Maori carved kauri pedestal bowl, the…

Maori Kauri Pedestal Bowl with Koruru Masks and Paua Inserts

An early 20th century Maori carved kauri pedestal bowl, the exterior carved with koruru masks and kowhaiwhai-like designs, original paua inserts and dark stained finish, Rotorua school, diameter 19.5 cm.

A Maori folk art box, dark stained timber, carved to the inset…

Maori Koruru Carved Box

A Maori folk art box, dark stained timber, carved to the inset lid with a koruru mask in high relief, wheku faces and profiles decorate the sides. 19 cm x 12 cm x 8.5 cm.

An early 20th century Maori carved kauri pedestal bowl the…

Maori Kauri Pedestal Bowl with Koruru Masks and Paua Inserts

An early 20th century Maori carved kauri pedestal bowl the exterior carved with koruru masks and kowhaiwhai-like designs, original paua inserts and dark stained finish, Rotorua school. Diameter 20 cm.

A pounamu koruru pendant as above with sealing wax inlaid eyes,…

Pounamu Koruru Pendant with Sealing Wax Inlaid Eyes

A pounamu koruru pendant as above with sealing wax inlaid eyes, height 9 cm. Provenance: The estate collection of Michael Higgs.

A Maori folk art carved frame for a mantel clock, with a koruru…

Maori Mantel Clock Frame with Koruru and Fish Carvings

A Maori folk art carved frame for a mantel clock, with a koruru head flanked by fish, above linked pairs of dolphin tails, width 47 cm. Provenance: The estate collection of Michael Higgs, (Tribal Artefacts, Polynesian Arts & Crafts, Private & Museum…

A Maori folk art carved frame, with koruru and profile wheku…

Maori Carved Frame with Koruru and Wheku Heads

A Maori folk art carved frame, with koruru and profile wheku heads flanking a small cavity, width 46 cm. Provenance: The estate collection of Michael Higgs, (Tribal Artefacts, Polynesian Arts & Crafts, Private & Museum Supplies Specialist)

An important 19th century or earlier Maori carved wooden…

Maori Tekoteko with Koruru Mask and Whakapapa Loops

An important 19th century or earlier Maori carved wooden tekoteko. The top figure with carved moku to face, one hand to stomach and the other to mouth (finger missing). Below is a weku style koruru mask, linked to the top figure through a series of…

19th century Maori tekoteko figure, with a patu held in the…

Maori Tekoteko Figure with Patu and Koruru Mask

19th century Maori tekoteko figure, with a patu held in the right hand, open mouth displaying block form teeth and male genitals present, surmounting a Koruru mask suggesting this figure was featured in an elevated position. Old red brown paint finish,…

A 19th century whalebone heru (hair comb), double sided, with…

19th Century Whalebone Double-Sided Hair Comb

A 19th century whalebone heru (hair comb), double sided, with two profile manaia cresting a koruru head above two divided blocks of tines, one block with the outer tine broken off. The face's eyes all with red sealing wax inlay, height 17 cm Y registered.…

New Zealand folk art carving, on a Maori theme featuring a…

Maori Folk Art Carving with Tekoteko and Manaia Figures

New Zealand folk art carving, on a Maori theme featuring a central Tekoteko figure atop a koruru face and a manaia head to the top section, with inset paua shell eyes, height 90.5 cm. Provenance: John Perry collection

A sheath knife with Maori carved wooden handle, the handle…

Maori Carved Sheath Knife with Military Mark

A sheath knife with Maori carved wooden handle, the handle decorated with rauru spirals and koruru heads, the sheath stamped with a military broad arrow mark. Oral history provenances this to John Cuthbert Adams (1854-1932) previous Mayor of Tauranga and…

A walking stick made of shark vertebrae with an ivory handle…

Shark Vertebrae Walking Stick with Maori Ivory Handle

A walking stick made of shark vertebrae with an ivory handle carved with Maori designs. The 65 graduated vertebrae interspersed by horn discs, the silver ferrule embossed with a koruru mask head, the handle with tiki figures on a notched pattern ground.…

A Maori carved panel, carved as two masks, a wheku head above a…

Maori Carved Panel with Wheku and Koruru Masks

A Maori carved panel, carved as two masks, a wheku head above a koruru head, both with paua inlaid ring eyes. Rotorua area c.1950s. Height 75.5 cm

A naïve folk art carved Maori wahaika, in the manner of Capt.…

Maori Wahaika with Tiki Heads and Koruru Butt

A naïve folk art carved Maori wahaika, in the manner of Capt. Gilbert Small, the blade with tiki heads and figure, the butt as a koruru head with paua eyes. Length 44 cm

A 20th century Maori carved box, rectangular, the lid carved in…

Maori Carved Box with Koruru Head and Various Heads

A 20th century Maori carved box, rectangular, the lid carved in high relief with a koruru head, the sides further carved with various heads. Dark stained kauri. 190 x 12 cm x 8 cm

Caved Maori koruru mask, 23 x 15 cm

Maori Koruru Mask - Carved Wood

Caved Maori koruru mask, 23 x 15 cm

Tekoteko figure, 19th century, surmounting a koruru mask, the…

Tekoteko Figure with Patu and Koruru Mask

Tekoteko figure, 19th century, surmounting a koruru mask, the tekoteko holding a patu, Y13863. Height 82 cm

Two large house posts (maihi), Maori People, New Zealand (early…

Maihi House Posts of Maori Ancestors

Two large house posts (maihi), Maori People, New Zealand (early twentieth century), inlaid pearl shell and trade paint on carved hardwood, 206 cm high (2). The large carved meeting house was usually named after an important ancestor and in most parts of…

Carved architectural element. Koruru' strong tiki figure with…

Koruru lizard tiki architectural carving

Carved architectural element. Koruru' strong tiki figure with mouth open revealing a lizard with an inset shell eye, carved double haehae and dog tooth notching. Dry red-wash patina. Height 49.5 cm. Width 34.5 cm.

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.…