Description (Physical description)
Greenstone or pounamu hei tiki pendant with shell inlaid eyes, worn. A modern copper alloy ring for suspension at the top
Event Date
Author: Flo Sutton

Loan (Long Term Gallery Loan)
Saffron Walden ethnography gallery On Loan from 1982, renewed 1989; 1993; 1996; 2002. Renewal requested May 2007 for a further three years, renewed in 2012 for 2 more years, Nov 2012 for two further years and Nov 2014 for 2 more years until Nov 2016

Reference: Ln384
Event Date
Author: rachel hand

Description (Physical description)
Catalogue card notes 'Two tikis: A. Shell ring inlaid eyes and modern suspension cord. B. Apparently much worn.'
Event Date 2/7/1993
Author: rachel hand

Context (Amendments / updates)
D.R. Simmons (Auckland Museum), 01 06 1978: 55.140 A. Tiki, greenstone. Early C19. South Is.
Event Date 2/7/1993
Author: rachel hand

Description (Physical description)
Tiki with head facing to the left, with mouth downwards on the right side. Figure’s arms extended at the sides, with “hands” touching the figure’s “upper thigh”. Extended legs, which join to form a curved base below, are connected to the figure’s body. The eyes are grooved around the central pupil (possibly originally for shell inlay).

Event Date 7/2/2008
Author: rachel hand

Context (Amendments / updates)
"A" photographed by Mark Adams, January 2010.
Event Date 9/3/2010
Author: rachel hand

Context (Amendments / updates)
Amiria Salmond, 21 05 01: David Simmons' views on the provenance and dating of Maori artefacts are no longer considered reliable in New Zealand.

Record checked and revised by Amiria Salmond (2001.06.21).
Event Date 19/12/2013
Author: rachel hand

Context (Acquisition Details)
Amiria Henare, 17 12 2003: Purchased with the assistance of the National Art Collections Fund (?), according to the records of the Fund themselves. Other gifts by this donor in the same period are listed as National Art Collections Fund, but no mention is made of this with reference to the tikis in either the Annual Report for 1955-56 or the Accessions Register.
Event Date 19/12/2013
Author: rachel hand

Context (Related Documents)
Catalogue card reads [handwritten in blue ink:] '55.140 A-B Oceania New Zealand. Two jade tikis. A. a good example. ht. 5 ins. Has shell ring inlaid in eyes.'; [later addition handwritten in black ball point:] 'Modern suspension cord.'; [handwritten in blue ink:] 'B. apparently much worn. ht. 2 1/2 ins. d.d. A.J. Hugh-Smith.'; [continues on reverse in black ball point:] '55.140 A. Tiki, greenstone. early 19th C. South Is.' [Red circular sticker bottom right of card; black and white photograph of object labelled 1955.140 A attached to back of card.]
Event Date 19/12/2013
Author: rachel hand

Context (Amendments / updates)
Photogram of 'A' made by Mark Adams in June 2015.
Event Date 6/7/2015
Author: rachel hand

Context (Amendments / updates)
The Art Fund website noted 'two breast ornaments: i) New Zealand tiki with shell rings inlaid in the eyes; height 13 cm; ii) New Zealand jade tiki; height, 6.5 cm. Also iii) Silver Viking penannular 'thistle' brooch of Norse origin, found at Ballynolan, Ireland, in 1835.' were presented in 1955 by A.J Hugh Smith through the Art Fund. Provenance: Mr A. John Hugh Smith.'

He also bequeathed material to the Fitzwilliam Museum in 1964 through The Art Fund. A J Hugh Smith is noted as a former director of Hambros Bank, member of the Executive Committee of the National Art Collections Fund and Honorary Treasurer 1931-1962.
Event Date 28/3/2019
Author: rachel hand

Conservation (Museum Additions Removed)
CON.2023.5570 | Museum Additions Removed
Event Date 5/1/2023
Author: Kirstie French