IDNO

T.170031.GIJ

Description

A documentation photograph of a Māori tiki figure on display in an exhibition. The carved wooden object is in the shape of a body, its face with wide open mouth and tongue patterned with grooves, and recessed eyes with paua shell decoration, and its body marked out with rudimentary arms and legs also patterned with grooves. [PB 25/08/2023]

The figure is now in the care of MAA, reference E 1901.86, and described as: "Conventionalized human figure, which represents an image known as " Huna huna toroa", caretaker or god of the Kumara house. It is a very ancient piece of carving, with the old Maori history attached and it is supposed to protect food from "Taipo" or the Evil Spirit. The shell in the eyes is modern. [Description from object record E 1901.86, PB 31/08/2023]

Place

Oceania Polynesia; New Zealand

Cultural Affliation

Maori

Named Person

Photographer

Jones, Gwilliam Iwan (known as G.I.)

Collector / Expedition

Date

circa 1980 to 1989

Collection Name

Jones Collection

Source

Format

Colour Transparency

Primary Documentation

Other Information

T.169937.GIJ - T.170148.GIJ were located together in a Agfa transparency box, now numbered C756/.