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Pitt Rivers Museum

1994.4.137.1

Elliptical carved wooden vessel on two broad feet. Exterior is carved with intricate designs of faces and figures at the ends. Mother of pearl inlaid. For lid see [1994.4.137 .2] [RM [OPS move] 8/9/2016]


1994.4.137.1

Digital asset copyright: Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford

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Collection type
Object
Description
Elliptical carved wooden vessel on two broad feet. Exterior is carved with intricate designs of faces and figures at the ends. Mother of pearl inlaid. For lid see [1994.4.137 .2] [RM [OPS move] 8/9/2016]
Long description
Box (.1) and lid (.2).
Cultural groups
Māori
Person
Field collector Unknown Collector
PRM source Hampshire County Museums Service
Date / Period
Date made: Before 1994
Date collected
By 1994
Acquisition information
Transferred: 01/1994
Materials and processes
Material Wood Plant, Material Pigment, Material Haliotis Shell, Material Mother of Pearl Shell, Process Carved, Process Inlaid, Process Painted
Dimensions
Width: max 205 mm total, Length: max 640 mm total, Length: max 640 mm, Height: max 290 mm total, Height: max 200 mm, Width: max 205 mm
Object numbers
Accession number: 1994.4.137.1
Research and responses

Research indicates that the wood may be Totana wood and the brown surface coating could be powdered charcoal in shark's liver oil. ( Starzecka, D (1996) Maori Art and Culture. pp 69-113. London. British Museum Press. [HR 27/10/2003]

For further information see David Simmons, Whakairo. Maori Tribal Art. pp. 49-51, (London: OUP, 1985).

Search terms: Box, Figure, Vessel