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.

50 items found:

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

Pair of whao - chisels fine examples of a whao pounamu…

Nephrite Chisel Pair with High-Quality Pounamu

Pair of whao - chisels fine examples of a whao pounamu (nephrite chisels) fashioned from high-quality pounamu. One has a worn/broken suspension hole. Length 7.5 cm. Width 1.5 cm; length 6 cm. Width 1.6 cm

Ta mallet wooden with ovoid striking head and cylindrical…

Weathered Wooden Mallet with Ovoid Head

Ta mallet wooden with ovoid striking head and cylindrical handle. Early, weathered patina. Length 41 cm. Width 13.5 cm

Ta - large mallet heavy, ovoid striking head and cylindrical…

Antique Weathered Ta Mallet with Ovoid Head

Ta - large mallet heavy, ovoid striking head and cylindrical handle. Early, weathered patina. Length 65 cm. Width 20 cm

A large Indonesian gong with gilt highlights on timber bracket,…

Indonesian Gilt Gong with Mallet

A large Indonesian gong with gilt highlights on timber bracket, complete with mallet 48 cm diam

A 19th century small greenstone adze (toki), of light green…

Small Greenstone Adze with Fine Chisel Work

A 19th century small greenstone adze (toki), of light green colour. Fine chisel work with grooves for lashing to a wooden haft handle. Length 9.5 cm. Width 3.8 cm

A late 18th century wooden carver's mallet, with carved wooden…

18th Century Maori Carver's Mallet

A late 18th century wooden carver's mallet, with carved wooden face with moko and wear marks to back (from use as a mallet). Also marked '4723.' length 29 cm

Four various early Pestles etc. Three pestles with ceramic…

Assorted Early Pestles and Pulveriser Set

Four various early Pestles etc. Three pestles with ceramic heads; boxwood mallet; and pulveriser. Length 42 cm. (longest)

A late 19th century rare wooden judge's gavel. Carved by…

Maori Judge's Gavel with Paua Inset Eyes

A late 19th century rare wooden judge's gavel. Carved by unknown Maori. Paua shell inset eyes on tiki face. Length 29 cm

Seven brown leather volumes with gilt tooling to include the…

7 Brown Leather Volumes with Gilt Tooling

Seven brown leather volumes with gilt tooling to include the Churchman's Companion, French Revolution, Russell's modern Europe & Memoirs of Langdale & mallet du pan. London (7)

A 9ct gold necklace; polo mallet design links interspersed with…

Polo Mallet and Pearl Gold Necklace

A 9ct gold necklace; polo mallet design links interspersed with 4 mm round cultured pearls. Length 505 mm. Wt. 14.8g

An early/mid-20th century Maori carved carver's mallet, the…

Maori Carver's Mallet with Stylised Figure Carving

An early/mid-20th century Maori carved carver's mallet, the back entirely carved with a stylised Maori figure, some dark stained original finish remaining. Length 30.5 cm

A pre-European Maori carved pounamu chisel, broken in two, the…

Maori Pounamu Chisel with Lapidiary Grooves

A pre-European Maori carved pounamu chisel, broken in two, the drill suspension hole broken and top section missing, semi-cylindrical form, longitudinal polished lapidary grooves evident, the blunt blade end with angled bevel. Broken in two and re-glued.…

Three old Maori pounamu small blades, includes one chisel, one…

Maori Pounamu Blades from Flower Family Collection

Three old Maori pounamu small blades, includes one chisel, one very small adze and another of good dark green tone. Lengths 3.3 cm and 8 cm. Provenance: The Flower Family Collection.

Three early Maori pounamu kuru, the longest of elongated ovoid…

Early Maori Pounamu Kuru Collection

Three early Maori pounamu kuru, the longest of elongated ovoid form and semi-translucent dark tone, another of bowenite, the smallest as a chisel with bevelled straight edge. Lengths 6.5 cm, 4 cm and 3.3 cm. Provenance: The Flower Family Collection.

Four old Maori pounamu small artefacts, the longest a chisel of…

Maori Pounamu Artefacts from Flower Family Collection

Four old Maori pounamu small artefacts, the longest a chisel of near cylindrical form displaying vibrant pale inclusions, the flat cutting edge with reasonably steep bevel, another of near black tone, one of wide form and a flattened kuru pendant under…

An old Maori uhi (chisel), the oval section wooden shaft with…

Maori Uhi Chisel with Pounamu Blade and Spike

An old Maori uhi (chisel), the oval section wooden shaft with lineal and notch cut detail, a serrated and notch cut small pounamu blade lashed to one end, a wooden spike to the other. Length 7.8 cm. Provenance: The Flower Family Collection.

19th century or earlier pounamu uhi (tattoo chisel) rectangular…

Antique Pounamu Tattoo Chisel with Serrated Blade

19th century or earlier pounamu uhi (tattoo chisel) rectangular form with tapering serrated blade. Length 6.5 cm. Provenance: Purchased Dunbar Sloane Ltd, lot 169, January 1972.

An old Maori whao (chisel), mildly tapered form, near straight…

Maori Whao Chisel from Flower Collection

An old Maori whao (chisel), mildly tapered form, near straight sharp bevel. Lustrous tone. Length 6.7 cm. Provenance: The Flower family Collection. Registered Y20423.

A 19th century or earlier whao pounamu (nephrite chisel),…

Antique Nephrite Chisel with Stone Tooling

A 19th century or earlier whao pounamu (nephrite chisel), quadrangular form, evidence of stone tooled cut to one side, a central V-form cut to the length, flat bevel end. Provenance: Ex. Dunbar Sloane Auction, c.1980/90, then Private Estate Collection,…

A 19th century or earlier pounamu whao (nephrite chisel), long…

Antique Nephrite Chisel with Curved Blade

A 19th century or earlier pounamu whao (nephrite chisel), long tapered form with mildly curved blade, the butt end tapering to an approximate point, length 10.5 cm. Provenance: Private Estate Collection.

Stone whao / chisel 20 cm length

20cm Chisel for Stone Carving

Stone whao / chisel 20 cm length

A pre 20th century Maori green stone kuru (pendant) in the form…

Maori Green Stone Chisel Pendant

A pre 20th century Maori green stone kuru (pendant) in the form of a whao (chisel). Bevelled edges. Length 4.5 cm

Five small pre 19th century Maori green stone Whao (Chisels).…

Pre-19th Century Maori Green Stone Whao Chisels

Five small pre 19th century Maori green stone Whao (Chisels). Provenance: Ex Webster collection (some numbers indecipherable). Length 3-5 cm

Accumulation of antique hand tools, 19th and early 20th century,…

Antique Hand Tools Collection with Mallet

Accumulation of antique hand tools, 19th and early 20th century, mallet 33 cm high

Three 18th century or earlier small greenstone Whao (chisel),…

18th Century Greenstone Whao and White Stone Toki

Three 18th century or earlier small greenstone Whao (chisel), two of classic tapering form. The third of rounded crude form. Together with a toki of white stone material, length 7 cm, 6 cm, 5 cm, 11 cm.

Alain Manesson Mallet 1630?1706 map 'Dvblin' Dublin, circa 1684,…

Dublin Map by Mallet, 1684

Alain Manesson Mallet 1630?1706 map 'Dvblin' Dublin, circa 1684, 16 cm x 11 cm and 29.5 cm x 24 cm frame

Three greenstone chisel pieces and stone piece, 8.5 cm, 7 cm, 4…

Greenstone Chisel and Stone Pieces Assortment

Three greenstone chisel pieces and stone piece, 8.5 cm, 7 cm, 4 cm, 15 cm

A Dominion Museum Education service Maori tattooing box, the…

Maori Tattooing Education Set with Replica Tools and Mask

A Dominion Museum Education service Maori tattooing box, the presentation cabinet fitted to the interior with a replica mahoe (wooden mallet) uhi (chisel) and pigment pot, together with a cast tattooed mask, a copy of the cast mask made in Rotorua in 1853…

A large and impressive waka prow by the late Tamati Edwards.…

Impressive Ngapuhi Waka Prow Replica by Tamati Edwards

A large and impressive waka prow by the late Tamati Edwards. This prow was chisel carved by the late Tamati Edwards who is of Ngapuhi of Northland, New Zealand. The prow is an exact downsized replica of the famous Ngapuhi waka taua named…

A hand-chiselled pou by master carver Mel Manu. Te Rangitane O…

Maori Wood Carving: Te Rangitane O Manawatu Pou

A hand-chiselled pou by master carver Mel Manu. Te Rangitane O Manawatu. The art of whakairo or Maori wood carving is no better represented than in this carving of a pou, intricately hand chiselled in the Manawatu-Whanganui style. Carved during 2002 and…

A Mel Manu taiaha adorned with kiwi feathers. A weapon of…

Kiwi Feathered Taiaha by Master Carver Mel Manu

A Mel Manu taiaha adorned with kiwi feathers. A weapon of hardwood with one end carved to represent a head with a protruding tongue, and other representing the body of a warrior. The upoko (head) and the arero (tongue) are heavily carved in the…

A Mel Manu taiaha adorned with kiwi feathers. A weapon of…

Kiwi Feathered Taiaha by Master Carver Mel Manu

A Mel Manu taiaha adorned with kiwi feathers. A weapon of hardwood with one end carved to represent a head with a protruding tongue, and other representing the body of a warrior. The upoko (head) and the arero (tongue) are heavily carved in the…

A talking stick (tokotoko) chisel carved by master carver Mel…

Master Carver's Ornate Talking Stick

A talking stick (tokotoko) chisel carved by master carver Mel Manu (Ngapuhi). The traditional design of this tokotoko or talking stick is ornately carved entirely by hand, using chisel tools. Tokotoko is fashioned in the form of a walking stick and from…

Pounamu chisel, Quadrangular shape, green grey nephrite with…

Green Grey Pounamu Chisel Pendant with Yellow Inclusions

Pounamu chisel, Quadrangular shape, green grey nephrite with yellow inclusions evident in the stone, hour glass suspension hole to enable suspension as a pendant, found at Te Umupakaroa at the north end of Kapiti Island.

Small pounamu chisel, dark green nephrite, found at Te…

Te Umupakaroa Find: Small Dark Green Pounamu Chisel

Small pounamu chisel, dark green nephrite, found at Te Umupakaroa at the northern end of Kapiti Island, 3.7 cm length

A pounamu chisel, Aotearoa, made from a mottled dark green…

Mottled Green Pounamu Chisel from Aotearoa

A pounamu chisel, Aotearoa, made from a mottled dark green nephrite stone. Polished body with a broken cutting edge. The chisel has a rounded quadrangular cross-section. Length 10.3 cm, width 1.5 cm, depth 1.5 cm

Pounamu chisel, Inanga variety stone. 13 cm length.

Inanga Pounamu Chisel - 13cm

Pounamu chisel, Inanga variety stone. 13 cm length.

Inanga Whao (chisel), with a distinctive white inclusion. 9 cm…

White-included Inanga Whao Chisel (9cm)

Inanga Whao (chisel), with a distinctive white inclusion. 9 cm length.

A Pre-European pounamu Whao (chisel), Inanga variety stone with…

Inanga Whao Chisel with Partial Heat-Treatment

A Pre-European pounamu Whao (chisel), Inanga variety stone with an unusual dark demarcation to the upper section indicating partial heat-treatment. Hammer end slanted. Circular cross-section tapering to a steep bevel and sharp cutting edge. Smooth…

Two bone uhi Matarau (serrated tattooing chisels). Provenance:…

Serrated Tattooing Chisels - Bone Uhi Matarau Pair

Two bone uhi Matarau (serrated tattooing chisels). Provenance: field collection. 4.4 cm, 4.3 cm length.

Chisel (pale Inanga), Lapidary scarfing along lateral edge. 13…

Lapidary Scarfing on Pale Inanga Chisel

Chisel (pale Inanga), Lapidary scarfing along lateral edge. 13 cm length. Y number pending

An old Maori whao (chisel), the stone blade lashed to a wooden…

Maori Whao Chisel with Stone Blade and Wooden Handle

An old Maori whao (chisel), the stone blade lashed to a wooden handle, length 14 cm

Partially formed toki pounamu and Whao chisel Bisected by a…

Kawakawa Stone Chisel with Polished Edge

Partially formed toki pounamu and Whao chisel Bisected by a Lapidary scarf, Kawakawa variety stone. Polished with sharp cutting edge, 10 cm length.

Ta Whakairo (mallet), 62 cm length.

62cm Whakairo Mallet

Ta Whakairo (mallet), 62 cm length.

Ta Whakairo (mallet), heart shaped lower section with a central…

Heart-shaped Whakairo Mallet for Eel Net Support

Ta Whakairo (mallet), heart shaped lower section with a central recess then tapering to the grip shaft. Showing wear usage. Historically used to peg the supports for eel nets, Provenance: Wagner Museum collection. Northland, 60 cm length.

A collection of Indian stone adze and chisels from Panama

Indian Stone Tools from Panama

A collection of Indian stone adze and chisels from Panama

Two Pacific adze and a Chisel

Three Tools: Pacific Adze and Chisel

Two Pacific adze and a Chisel

Two pounamu Whao (chisels), upper sections broken away, 8 cm, 5…

Broken Pounamu Whao Chisels - 8cm and 5cm

Two pounamu Whao (chisels), upper sections broken away, 8 cm, 5 cm.

Ta Whakairo (mallet), 54 cm length.

54 cm Ta Whakairo Mallet

Ta Whakairo (mallet), 54 cm length.

A Pre-European pounamu Whao (chisel), Inanga variety stone with…

A Pre-European pounamu Whao (chisel), Inanga variety stone with an unusual dark demarcation to the upper section indicating partial heat-treatment. Hammer end slanted. Circular cross-section tapering to a steep bevel and sharp cutting edge. Smooth…