waka huia treasure box

The delicacy of its carved decoration, this oblong waka huia box testifies to the care Maori artists took with creations of great symbolic value.
Intended to preserve the nephrite ornaments and precious feathers of the huia bird that adorned the headdresses of the great Maori chiefs, it is carved with tiki heads at the ends to protect its contents.

The elaborate lid is adorned with two full-length tiki with oversized heads, hands on stomachs, tongues out, a sign of power. They are linked by a line of carved curves, hollowed out in the middle section.
The lid-bottle assembly features an abundance of curved incisions.

A privilege of high-ranking individuals, these boxes were hung from the ridge of the chief’s house, hence the deep, beautiful dark reddish-brown patina on the protruding parts.

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