WORLD CULTURES : AUSTRALASIA
- Object Name
- Tiki
- Description
- Head facing over right shoulder, hands on thighs, 3 fingers on each. Paua shell eyes. Female. Remains of suspension loop of cloth and fibre wrapped round with cord. Nose carefully incised, mouth has two teeth. There are two perforations, one has broken at the top, the other is complete. It is made from dark green nephrite 'pounamu' in Māori language and from New Zealand known as 'Aotearoa' in Māori language. Pounamu is deeply valued and is considered a sacred treasure, historically used for both tools and weapons, and for ceremonial objects. Pieces of Pounamu are often passed down as heirlooms and can hold a high degree of mana (spiritual authority or prestige).
- Materials
- Nephrite & Paua shell
- Place Collected
-
- Catalogue Number
- BELUM.C10.1933
- Notes
- National Museums NI
National Museums NI holds over a million objects in the collection, as well as this we manage the records and associated images for each object through a working database. The national collection has been almost 200 years in the making, and we recognise that thinking about collecting and collections has evolved over this time and continues to evolve. As a result, some of our records may contain language and views that we now consider offensive and unacceptable, for example, reflecting racist attitudes. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to reviewing and updating our records accordingly. Working with researchers, communities and academic partners we are learning more about the stories behind objects, and we are committed to sharing these with our audiences. We welcome feedback. Please email [email protected]