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.

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A late 19th century tokotoko, carved Maori figure with ta moko…

Late 19th Century Maori Tokotoko Figure with Ta Moko

A late 19th century tokotoko, carved Maori figure with ta moko wrapped in a korowai and decorated in rauponga surmounting a tapering shaft. H 94 cm,

A 19th century tokotoko attributed to Jacob William Heberley…

A 19th century tokotoko attributed to Jacob William Heberley (1849 - 1906), naturalistic carved figure with ta-moko surmounting four wheku heads. The figures with inset cut paua shell eyes (one missing) and decorated with triple haehae and pakati (dog…

An impressive late 19th century carved ngati tarawhai model…

Late 19th Century Carved Ngati Tarawhai Model Pataka Showcase

An impressive late 19th century carved ngati tarawhai model Pataka (Storehouse). The paepae carved with wheku heads and manaia. The amo carved with ancestral figures with paua shell eyes. The mahi with interweaving koru designs in low relief terminating…

A late 19th century Poupou section, carved with an ancestral…

A late 19th century Poupou section, carved with an ancestral figure with a wheku face with five fingered hands placed on the abdomen. The base of the panel carved with a wheku face. 71 x 26 cm

An impressive 19th century Poutokomanawa figure. The standing…

An impressive 19th century Poutokomanawa figure. The standing ancestral figure with four fingered hands placed on the abdomen. The head fully carved with ta moko. Red ochre finish to the surface. Height. 125 cm,

A rare carved wood Albatross hook, manaia figure carved to the…

Carved Wood Albatross Hook with Manaia Figure and Paua Eyes

A rare carved wood Albatross hook, manaia figure carved to the wooden shank with cut paua eye embellishments. The body displays finely carved hae hae and pataki. Provenance: Webster collection, height 11 cm.

A carved wood tobacco pipe by Thomas Heberley (1876 - 1937).…

A carved wood tobacco pipe by Thomas Heberley (1876 - 1937). The large bowl is carved with double tane figures lying prone with elbows raised, one hand to hip and the other holding extended tongues. Cut paua embellishment. Curved Bakelite stem. The…

A carved wood tobacco pipe by Thomas Heberley (1876 - 1937).…

Heberley Carved Wood Tobacco Pipe with Tane and Wahine

A carved wood tobacco pipe by Thomas Heberley (1876 - 1937). The bowl is carved with a pair of naturalistic tane and wahine figures holding three fingered hands to their mouths. The wahine holds a stylised patu the tane with hand to hip, both with cut…

A carved wood tobacco pipe by Thomas Heberley. The front of the…

A carved wood tobacco pipe by Thomas Heberley. The front of the bowl carved with a wahine and child the stem issuing from the mouth of a naturalistic tane figure clutching the tail of a marakihau (mythical sea creature). Cut paua embellishments. Linear…

Tewhatewha, long handled fighting staff, carved from medium…

Tewhatewha, long handled fighting staff, carved from medium brown wood, perforated hole on inner staff. Long tapered shaft, wheku figure carved with shell inlaid eyes, almost halfway up. Small chip to butt end. Length 135.4 cm. Provenance: Estate of John…

Heru Iwi, rare whalebone hair comb, pre- European period,…

Heru Iwi, rare whalebone hair comb, pre- European period, manaia decoration, with 10 teeth, length 19.3 cm. Provenance: Florence court sale [2009]. Estate of John Lawford

A folk art carving of a Maori woman, mid 20th century. Carved…

A folk art carving of a Maori woman, mid 20th century. Carved from a single piece of wood depicting a seated female figure wearing a piu piu and holding a patu. The woman wears a huia feather in her hair. At the base is a sticker that reads 'Maori Art…

A good late 19th century figure supported kumete (Ngati…

A good late 19th century figure supported kumete (Ngati tarawhai), a well carved lidded figure supported kumete. The bowl is flanked by two crouching wheku figures carved in high relief. The surface is ornately carved in rauponga spirals with triple…

A late 19th century toki Kaukaroa (long handled axe), the shaft…

A late 19th century toki Kaukaroa (long handled axe), the shaft carved with eight carved wheku figures terminating in a rauponga carved arero (tongue) similar to a taiaha, mounted with a trade steel blade, height 106 cm,

A 19th century mutu kaka (Maori bird snare perch), carved wheku…

A 19th century mutu kaka (Maori bird snare perch), carved wheku figure to the shaft. Old chip to the foot, height 27 cm,

A late 19th century wahaika (carved wood hand club), Hooked…

A late 19th century wahaika (carved wood hand club), Hooked lobed blade with wheku figure carved to the inner blade curve. Pierced for suspension with unusual janus wheku face carved to the butt, height 37 cm,

A large early 19th century Wakahuia (treasure box), traditional…

A large early 19th century Wakahuia (treasure box), traditional elongated oval shape flanked by stylized human figures (one missing the lower section of the mouth), each with three fingered hands resting on the thighs and cut paua shell adorning the eyes.…

A good 19th century Wakahuia (treasure box) with huia feather,…

A good 19th century Wakahuia (treasure box) with huia feather, finely carved of classical elongated oval form. Each end with ancestral figures with projecting wheku heads. The body carved with tripple haehae and pakati notching in rauponga design. The lid…

A 19th century Wakahuia (treasure box), traditional elongated…

A 19th century Wakahuia (treasure box), traditional elongated oval shape flanked by stylized human figures carved in high relief. Each with arms outstretched behind their backs with hands resting on the box. The body of the box carved with radiating lines…

A large 20th century tokotoko with surmounting double-sided…

A large 20th century tokotoko with surmounting double-sided figures, figures displaying wheku heads with inset cut paua eyes, protruding tongues, and interlocking arms intricately carved with spirals, triple ridged haehae and pakati (dog notching), height…

A finely carved Ngati tarawhai waka huia (treasure box) by Tene…

A finely carved Ngati tarawhai waka huia (treasure box) by Tene Waitere, elongated oval shape flanked by stylized human figures, each with three fingered hands placed to the abdomen and decorated with fine rauponga (notched ridges and parallel grooves).…

Tene Waitere Ngati Tarawahi window frame, the base panel carved…

Tene Waitere Ngati Tarawahi window frame, the base panel carved with two large wheku heads. The side supports carved with side profile manaia and decorated with rauponga and pikorauru spirals. 87 x 68 cm

Tene Waitere Ngati Tarawahi Poupou, carved with an ancestral…

Tene Waitere Ngati Tarawahi Poupou, carved with an ancestral figure with wheku head with protruding tongue and circular disc eyes surmounting a wheku head at the base of the panel. A further small wheku carved to the lower center section. Decorated with…

Tene Waitere Ngati Tarawahi Poupou, carved with an ancestral…

Tene Waitere Ngati Tarawahi Poupou, carved with an ancestral figure with wheku head with protruding tongue and circular disc eyes surmounting a wheku head at the base of the panel. A further small wheku carved to the lower center section. Decorated with…

Tene Waitere Ngati Tarawahi Poupou, carved with an ancestral…

Tene Waitere Ngati Tarawahi Poupou, carved with an ancestral figure with wheku head with protruding tongue and circular disc eyes surmounting a wheku head at the base of the panel. A further small wheku carved to the lower center section. Decorated with…

Tene Waitere Ngati Tarawahi Poupou, carved with an ancestral…

Tene Waitere Ngati Tarawahi Poupou, carved with an ancestral figure with wheku head with protruding tongue and circular disc eyes surmounting a wheku head at the base of the panel. A further small wheku carved to the lower center section. Decorated with…

Tene Waitere Ngati Tarawahi Poupou, carved with an ancestral…

Tene Waitere Ngati Tarawahi Poupou, carved with an ancestral figure with wheku head with protruding tongue and circular disc eyes surmounting a wheku head at the base of the panel. A further small wheku carved to the lower center section. Decorated with…

Tene Waitere Ngati Tarawahi Poupou, carved with an ancestral…

Tene Waitere Ngati Tarawahi Poupou, carved with an ancestral figure with wheku head with protruding tongue and circular disc eyes surmounting a wheku head at the base of the panel. A further small wheku carved to the lower center section. Decorated with…

Tene Waitere Ngati Tarawahi Poupou, carved with an ancestral…

Tene Waitere Ngati Tarawahi Poupou, carved with an ancestral figure with wheku head with protruding tongue and circular disc eyes surmounting a wheku head at the base of the panel. A further small wheku carved to the lower center section. Decorated with…

Tene Waitere Ngati Tarawahi Poupou, carved with an ancestral…

Tene Waitere Ngati Tarawahi Poupou, carved with an ancestral figure with wheku head with protruding tongue and circular disc eyes surmounting a wheku head at the base of the panel. A further small wheku carved to the lower center section. Decorated with…

An early 20th century carved ebonised panel, centered by a…

An early 20th century carved ebonised panel, centered by a figure with a wheku head with protruding tongue and cut paua shell eyes flanked by figures with wheku heads, the whole extensively adorned with haehae, pakati and pikoruru carving. 89 x 66 cm

Early 20th century tekoteko figure (gable figure), the figure…

Early 20th century tekoteko figure (gable figure), the figure with hands placed to abdomen. Painted in red ochre with ta moko highlighted in white, height 79 cm

A 19th century Maihi (barge board), carved with interlinked…

A 19th century Maihi (barge board), carved with interlinked manaia figures with cut paua shell eyes. The wreathen figures decorated with rauponga and pikorauru. Red ochre painted surface. Provenance: Wagner Museum collection. Peter Stratford collection.…

An early 19th century waka Taua Rauawa (Gunwale), carved with…

An early 19th century waka Taua Rauawa (Gunwale), carved with side profile figures with wheku faces interlinked with manaia figures with cut paua shell eyes. Red ochre painted finish. Pierced with circular holes to the upper and lower section to enable…

An early 19th century waka Taua Rauawa (Gunwale), carved with…

An early 19th century waka Taua Rauawa (Gunwale), carved with side profile figures with wheku faces interlinked with manaia figures with cut paua shell eyes. Red ochre painted finish. Pierced with circular holes to the upper and lower section to enable…

A good early 19th century wahaika (carved wood hand club),…

A good early 19th century wahaika (carved wood hand club), traditional hooked blade with carved wheku figure to the inner blade curve. The grip section terminating in a carved wheku head. Pierced for suspension. Small natural wood depression to one side…

Model Tauihu (canoe prow), carved wood figure with wheku head…

Model Tauihu (canoe prow), carved wood figure with wheku head displaying a protruding tongue, inlaid paua shell eyes, and three figured hands clasped to the belly. Circa 1920, length 18 cm,

A Presentation Hei Tiki Gifted to King Edward VIII. The Hei…

Hei Tiki Gift: A Royal Presentation from New Zealand

A Presentation Hei Tiki Gifted to King Edward VIII. The Hei tiki was presented to the then Prince of Wales during a visit to West Harbour, Dunedin, as part of his 1920 royal tour of New Zealand and the greater commonwealth. He received a grand welcome…

Assorted items from Papua New Guinea, including; a hafted adze,…

Papua New Guinea's Cultural Treasures

Assorted items from Papua New Guinea, including; a hafted adze, shell currency, body adornment, a carved wood figure, pounder, penis gourd, and others.

Two cast standing Maori figures, 36 cm, 35 cm height

Maori Standing Figures - 36cm & 35cm

Two cast standing Maori figures, 36 cm, 35 cm height

Three carved pou Whakairo figures with Tiki

Pou Whakairo Trio with Tiki Carvings

Three carved pou Whakairo figures with Tiki

Wakahuia lid carved with two opposing male and female figures,…

Opposing Male and Female Figures Wakahuia Lid

Wakahuia lid carved with two opposing male and female figures, 47 cm length

A Buka Island paddle from Papua New Guinea, displaying stylized…

Stylized Ancestor Paddle from Buka Island, Papua New Guinea

A Buka Island paddle from Papua New Guinea, displaying stylized ancestor figures painted with dark pigment to one side of the blade, carving to lower end of the handle, 177 cm length

Ramu River paddle from Papua New Guinea, displaying stylized…

Stylized Ancestor Paddle from Papua New Guinea

Ramu River paddle from Papua New Guinea, displaying stylized ancestor figures painted with dark pigment to both side of the blade and figural finial to the top of paddle, 164 cm length

A Ramu River paddle from Papua New Guinea, displaying stylized…

Ramu River Ancestor Paddle

A Ramu River paddle from Papua New Guinea, displaying stylized ancestor figures painted with dark pigment to one side of the blade, carving to lower end of the handle, 161 cm length

A Ramu River paddle from Papua New Guinea, displaying stylized…

Stylized Ancestor Paddle from Papua New Guinea

A Ramu River paddle from Papua New Guinea, displaying stylized ancestor figures painted with dark pigment to one side of the blade, 170 cm length

A Ramu River paddle from Papua New Guinea, displaying stylized…

Ancestor Paddle from Papua New Guinea

A Ramu River paddle from Papua New Guinea, displaying stylized ancestor figures painted with dark pigment to one side of the blade, carving to lower end of the handle with concentric bands to the top, 196 cm length

A Ramu River paddle from Papua New Guinea, displaying stylized…

Stylized Ancestor Paddle from Papua New Guinea

A Ramu River paddle from Papua New Guinea, displaying stylized ancestor figures painted with dark pigment to one side of the blade, carving to lower end of the handle with concentric bands to the top, 206 cm length

A Ramu River paddle from Papua New Guinea, displaying stylized…

Stylized Ancestor Paddle from Ramu River, PNG

A Ramu River paddle from Papua New Guinea, displaying stylized ancestor figures painted with dark pigment to one side of the blade, carving to lower end of the handle, 184 cm length

A Ramu River paddle from Papua New Guinea, displaying stylized…

Stylized Ancestor Paddle from Papua New Guinea

A Ramu River paddle from Papua New Guinea, displaying stylized ancestor figures painted with dark pigment to one side of the blade, concentric bands carved to top of the handle, 190 cm length

A Ramu River paddle from Papua New Guinea, displaying stylized…

Stylized Ancestor Paddle from Papua New Guinea

A Ramu River paddle from Papua New Guinea, displaying stylized ancestor figures painted with dark pigment to one side of the blade, carving to lower end of the handle, 207 cm length

Ramu River paddle from Papua New Guinea, displaying stylized…

Stylized Ancestor Paddle from Papua New Guinea

Ramu River paddle from Papua New Guinea, displaying stylized ancestor figures painted with dark pigment to one side of the blade and figural finial to the top of paddle, 172 cm length

Ramu River paddle from Papua New Guinea, displaying stylized…

Stylized Ancestor Paddle from Ramu River, PNG

Ramu River paddle from Papua New Guinea, displaying stylized ancestor figures painted with dark pigment to one side of the blade and figural finial to the top of paddle, 195 cm length

Early 19th century Architectual board section, possibly the…

Wheku Ancestral Figure Door Section

Early 19th century Architectual board section, possibly the door to a kumara pit store, carved with an ancestral figure with a wheku head with protruding tongue with pakati detailing. The figure holds a patu to the abdomen clasped in three fingered hands.…

Carved wooden whakawae (door Jamb) section, the early 19th…

19th Century Carved Wooden Whakawae Door Jamb

Carved wooden whakawae (door Jamb) section, the early 19th century architectural piece carved with three conjoined ancestral figures with naturalistic bodies and wheku faces mounted on an intricately carved support with side profile wheku heads and…

A small ornamental hoe (paddle), displaying a carved wheku…

Paua-eyed Wheku Ornamental Hoe

A small ornamental hoe (paddle), displaying a carved wheku figure with inlaid paua eyes and hands clasped to belly, 47 cm length.

A 19th century tokotoko (traditional carved walking stick)…

19th Century Heberley Tokotoko Walking Stick with Ta-moko and Paua Shell

A 19th century tokotoko (traditional carved walking stick) attributed to Jacob William Heberley (1849-1906). Naturalistic carved figure with ta-moko surmounting three wheku heads. The figures all with inset cut paua shell eyes (one missing) and decorated…

A 20th century wahaika by Norman Clark, carved wood and applied…

Paua Wahaika with Wheku Figure and Face

A 20th century wahaika by Norman Clark, carved wood and applied paua, with wheku figure and face to the grip section, 40 cm length

A carved wood Maori desk stand with glass ink well, decorated…

Maori Desk Stand with Carved Heads and Inlaid Paua

A carved wood Maori desk stand with glass ink well, decorated with carved wheku heads and manaia with inlaid paua, 22 cm x 30 cm

Mutu kaka (bird perch snare), carved from a single piece of…

Manaia Perch Snare with Wheku Figure

Mutu kaka (bird perch snare), carved from a single piece of wood, perch section slightly curved terminating in manaia face. Wheku figure to shank with fingers to belly and bent knees, 23 cm x 24 cm.

A vintage carved rimu wakahuia, the lid with pair of stylised…

Carved Rimu Wakahuia with Stylised Figures and Paua Inset Eyes

A vintage carved rimu wakahuia, the lid with pair of stylised figures with paua inset eyes, all over lineal and notch carved detail, length 36 cm.

An early/mid 20th century waka huia treasure box, carved with…

Stylized Figure Waka Huia Treasure Box

An early/mid 20th century waka huia treasure box, carved with two seated stylised figures each supporting the box in their outstretched arms and legs. The ovoid heart form box carved with rauponga decoration. Paua insert highlights. Original dark stained…

Pauline Yearbury (Ngapuhi 1926-1977), 'Manaia', incised and…

Manaia Wood Panel by Pauline Yearbury

Pauline Yearbury (Ngapuhi 1926-1977), 'Manaia', incised and coloured wood panel, signed with incised cipher lower right, labelled verso 'Designed and Executed by Pauline and James Yearbury, Colonial gallery, Russell, bay of Islands, N.Z'. 40.5 x 16.5 cm

A New Zealand folk art figure, Hand-carved from wood. Depicting…

Paua inlaid wooden figure with blade and loincloth

A New Zealand folk art figure, Hand-carved from wood. Depicting a figure holding a blade, and wearing a a blue fabric loincloth. The figure stands on a cubic base with an inlaid metal '3'. The eyes and blade are detailed with paua shell inlay, height 24.5…

A pair of New Zealand folk art figures, carved from wood. One…

New Zealand Wood Carved Folk Art Figures

A pair of New Zealand folk art figures, carved from wood. One figure holds a patu. The other figure has paua shell inlaid eyes. Tallest height 15 cm, width 4.9 cm, depth 4.5 cm

A folk art tekoteko, carved from wood. Depicting a figure with…

Tekoteko with Clasped Hands and Long Tongue

A folk art tekoteko, carved from wood. Depicting a figure with hands clasped at the stomach and a long extending tongue. With one remaining paua shell eye, height 17.7 cm, width 7.5 cm, depth 5 cm

A kauri gum figure of a kiwi, Hand-carved and painted, height…

Hand-carved Kauri Gum Kiwi Figure

A kauri gum figure of a kiwi, Hand-carved and painted, height 12.5 cm, width 13 cm, depth 6.5 cm

A collection of three New Zealand folk art figures, each carved…

Kiwi Wood Carvings: Three Folk Art Figures

A collection of three New Zealand folk art figures, each carved from wood in different carving styles. Tallest height 17 cm, width 4.4 cm, depth 4.5 cm

A collection of four New Zealand folk art figures, carved from…

Kiwi Tongue Folk Art Collection

A collection of four New Zealand folk art figures, carved from wood. All with hands at the stomach and long extending tongues. Each with pauashell eyes. Tallest height 13.5 cm, width 3.8 cm, depth 3.4 cm

A New Zealand folk art figure, carved from wood. Depicting a…

Paua-eyed Tongue Carving

A New Zealand folk art figure, carved from wood. Depicting a freestanding figure with hands resting at the stomach and a long tongue extended. With pauashell eyes and coloured brown/red, height 22 cm, width 5 cm, depth 4.5 cm

A New Zealand folk art tekoteko, carved from kauri wood.…

Kauri Wood Tekoteko with Paua Shell Eyes

A New Zealand folk art tekoteko, carved from kauri wood. Depicting a freestanding figure with hands at chest. With pauashell eyes, height 16.4 cm, width 7 cm, depth 4.7 cm

A New Zealand folk art carved figure, carved from wood.…

Hei Tiki Figure with Patu and Paua Shell Eyes

A New Zealand folk art carved figure, carved from wood. Depicting a hei tiki figure holding a patu over-head. The figure has paua shell eye inlays and has been coloured black, height 19.3 cm, width 9.5 cm, depth 4.7 cm

A New Zealand folk art tekoteko, carved from wood. Depicting a…

Paua-eyed tekoteko figure

A New Zealand folk art tekoteko, carved from wood. Depicting a figure with hands at the stomach and a long extending tounge. With pauashell inlay eyes. Coloured black, height 16.5 cm, width 5.8 cm, depth 3.5 cm

A large folk art carving of a wahaika, carved from a single…

Folk Art Wahaika Carving

A large folk art carving of a wahaika, carved from a single piece of hardwood. This oversized wahaika features deeply carved notched patterns at the head. At the inner-side of the blade is a figure. With remnants of paint in tones of brown, red, and black…

A carved Epa from a model Pataka, Aotearoa, early 20th century.…

Carved Epa from Rotorua School, Aotearoa

A carved Epa from a model Pataka, Aotearoa, early 20th century. From the Rotorua school. Carved from wood and depicting multiple faces and figures. Coloured with red ochre paint. With paua shell inlaid eyes, height 60.5 cm, width 59 cm, depth 2 cm, Y2926…

A New Zealand folk art figure, carved from wood depicting a…

Colorful Kneeling Folk Art Figure from New Zealand

A New Zealand folk art figure, carved from wood depicting a kneeling figure. The figure has been coloured with paint, and has detailing for eyes and skirt, height 25 cm, width 8.5 cm, depth 10 cm

Green stone figures, three Mexican in the form of pre Columbian,…

Mexican Olmec Stone Figures Set of Three

Green stone figures, three Mexican in the form of pre Columbian, Depictions of Olmec figures Repair to one leg, height 8.5 cm, to 16.5 cm

Folk Art Maori figure, 33 cm high

Maori Folk Art Figure (33cm)

Folk Art Maori figure, 33 cm high

A small folk art tobacco box, Aotearoa. A small box crafted…

Folk Art Tobacco Box from Aotearoa

A small folk art tobacco box, Aotearoa. A small box crafted from wood. Featuring hand-carved designs of figures to the top, front, and reverse, and flowers to the sides. Height 4.6 cm, width 11.2 cm, depth 7 cm. Provenance: Private Collection, Aotearoa

Te Maniatutu Tanenui. This poupou carved panel, is made from a…

Te Maniatutu Tanenui Carved Poupou Panel

Te Maniatutu Tanenui. This poupou carved panel, is made from a single piece of wood. It depicts a standing figure with hands resting at the stomach. The figure has inlaid paua shell eyes. The figures face, arms, legs, and chest have incised designs…

Te Maniatutu Tanenuiarangi. The poupou carved panel, is made…

Te Maniatutu Tanenuiarangi Carved Poupou Panel

Te Maniatutu Tanenuiarangi. The poupou carved panel, is made from a single piece of wood. It depicts a standing figure with hands resting at the stomach. The figure has inlaid paua shell eyes and wears a heitiki around his neck. The figures face, arms,…

Te Maniatutu Ruamoko. This tekoteko free-standing figure is…

Te Maniatutu Ruamoko Figure with Paua Shell Eyes

Te Maniatutu Ruamoko. This tekoteko free-standing figure is caved from a single piece of wood. It depicts a figure with hands at its stomach and feet apart, knees slightly bent. The figure has inlaid paua shell eyes, and the face has incised detailing of…

Te Maniatutu untitled. This tekoteko free-standing figure is…

Maniatutu Figure with Paua Shell Eyes and Moko Detailing

Te Maniatutu untitled. This tekoteko free-standing figure is caved from a single piece of wood. It depicts a figure with hands at its stomach and feet apart, knees slightly bent. The figure has inlaid paua shell eyes, and the face has incised detailing of…

Cliff Whiting untitled, Cliff Whiting (1937-2017) of Te…

Cliff Whiting's Koru Spiral Mask Prototype

Cliff Whiting untitled, Cliff Whiting (1937-2017) of Te Whanau-a-Apanui iwi was an esteemed teacher and practitioner of Maori arts. Whiting was a leading figure in the design of Te Papa's Rongomaraeroa marae. This mask is a prototype designed by Whiting…

A wahaika, Aotearoa, circa late 19th century. A short-bladed…

Weke Wahaika - Maori Carved Short-Bladed Striking Weapon

A wahaika, Aotearoa, circa late 19th century. A short-bladed striking weapon. Carved from a single piece of wood. Weke masked butt, carved human figure (marakihau) on incurve. Its body and head have been carved in a figure-of-eight shape, with an arched…

A carved post figure, Aotearoa, carved from a lightweight wood.…

Lost and Found: Carved Post Figure from Aotearoa

A carved post figure, Aotearoa, carved from a lightweight wood. The post features a figure standing atop of another figure that has been lost to damage, possibly fire. The upper figure has three-finger hands resting on the lower stomach. The upper…

A walking stick, Aotearoa, superb Maori swagger stick. This…

Maori Swagger Stick

A walking stick, Aotearoa, superb Maori swagger stick. This swagger stick appears to have been made from an early tokotoko. With extremely fine and precise carvings cover the entire body with humanoid figure to the to top. The handle has been left…

A whakawae door jam, Aotearoa. An architectural piece used as…

Whakawae Door Jam with Three Figures

A whakawae door jam, Aotearoa. An architectural piece used as an upright of a doorway. This whakawae depicts three full standing figures and a head at the bottom that has been lost. The figures are covered in notched carvings with spiral motifs on the…

An Aurei whalebone cloak pin, Aotearoa, chiefly Aurei (marine…

Aurei Whalebone Cloak Pin from Aotearoa

An Aurei whalebone cloak pin, Aotearoa, chiefly Aurei (marine ivory cloak pin). Aurei were fashioned from whalebone, whale teeth, greenstone and shell; whale teeth were the most prised. The term Au stems from the old Polynesian for needle and Rei refers…

Wooden box with carved lid, the lid is well decorated with…

Carved Wooden Box with Intricate Lid Design

Wooden box with carved lid, the lid is well decorated with interweaving wheku and manaia figures. 5 cm height x 8 cm width

Pounamu manaia by Charlie Marsh (ngati Wahiao), Inanga variety…

Pounamu Manaia Pendant

Pounamu manaia by Charlie Marsh (ngati Wahiao), Inanga variety stone with paua eyes. 7 cm height

Scott Parker pounamu manaia pendant, carved in inanga variety…

Inanga Pounamu Manaia Pendant with Silver Eyes

Scott Parker pounamu manaia pendant, carved in inanga variety stone. Sliver eyes circular and serrated. Attached binding and hand-made wooden box. 8 cm length

A 20th century ngati tarawhai carved Wakahuia (treasure box),…

Ngati Tarawhai Wakahuia with Tiki and Manaia Figures

A 20th century ngati tarawhai carved Wakahuia (treasure box), carved in rauponga patterns with pataki, the lid displays a central tiki figure in high relief with detailed manaia figures to each end. Paper sticker inscribed 'Carved as a gift to Ernest…

Ngati tarawhai pou whakairo (carved figure), the small ebonised…

Ngati Tarawhai Carved Figure with Paua Eyes (18cm)

Ngati tarawhai pou whakairo (carved figure), the small ebonised figure standing with arms behind his back with three fingered hands placed to the hips. With wheku face and cut paua shell eyes. Damaged to base. 18 cm height.

Pou whakairo (free standing carved figure), with two figures…

Standing Pou with Two Figures

Pou whakairo (free standing carved figure), with two figures one standing on top of the other. The top figure with incipient face with protruding tongue and with hands to abdomen. The body figure similarly rendered. Damage to the base section. 25 cm…

A wahaika paraoa (whalebone hand club), with a figure with…

Whalebone Hand Club with Carved Patu and Wheku Head

A wahaika paraoa (whalebone hand club), with a figure with arched back holding a patu carved in relief to the curve of the blade. The handle with a square suspension hole terminating in a wheku head with protruding tongue. 30 cm length.