We left the hotel fairly early in the morning so as to head towards the Domain where we intended to visit the Auckland War Memorial Museum. It was a grayish day, this being the reason as to why we opted for an indoors-type of activity.
The Museum surrounding grounds pertaining to the Auckland Domain were beginning to fill with youngsters in cricket outfits accompanied by their parents. Everywhere we walked to there was a touch of the British influence, sometimes more noticeable than others.
We would soon discover one of the greatest collections of Maori treasures, as we made it through the entrance of the Museum. Built in 1929 to commemorate the end of World War I, in which 18,166 New Zealanders are said to have been killed, the Neo-Classical design of the Museum evokes the Greek Temples.
Going through the ground floor galleries provided visitors with an insight to the origins of the Maoris and a first approach to their place in the Pacif region.
Spirit doll, Southern islands, Papua New Guinea
Cook islands elaborate personal adornments said to be restricted to higher-ranking chiefly persons and referred to religious symbolism. The ornaments showcased were mostly made of whale ivory and highly prized feathers.
Camakau, sailing canoe from Fiji. This is a dugout sailing canoe that drives through the water at speeds of 8 and 9 knots. Larger camakau are still used for fishing and inter-island transport.
Marriage related ornaments.
Currency and power related artifacts.
Nga Tohu Tawhito - Doubtless Bay canoe prow and stern thought to date from early in the development of Maori Art (particularly the profile head at the front of the prow). Forms and motifs are said to be similar to the unique overall appearance of the Maori carvings.
Karetao - Puppets were operated by a cord pulled by the right hand, which caused the hands to move. At the same time the left hand made the body quiver to the time of an oriori karetao (chant) as if performing haka.
Ahurewa Ttapu o te Kiingitanga - He tapu, he tapu rawa te ahurewa. He nohonga ariki (Sacred, sacred is the throne befitting of a king). Kiingi Mahuta (1894-1912) commisioned Patuata Tauehe of Ngaati Raukawa to carve this throne. According to records the throne was first used on May 23 may 1966 when Princess Piki was crowned.
Hotunui - An ancestral meeting house of the Ngati Maru people. In Maori culture, these houses are representations of ancestors and held in the highest regard.
Waharoa (gateway) named tiki, after an ancestor of the people of Rotorua. These type of entrances were left in the stockade that surrounded the hills each of which guarded by an ancestor carved on it gateway.
Tekoteko - The tatoo on the face of the figure of this tekoteko, though tatoos were mostly painted in red and not black.
Iwirakau - The central house-post represents Iwirakau holding the pounamu, a tribal heirloom of the famous Ngati Porou chief and carver.
Paretekohera - Named after an ancestress this post originally stood in the defense of Omaunu, a fortified pa situated at lake Taupo.
Punga - Large waka carried anchors at the bow and stern. Anchor ropes were painted from cabbage tree leaves. The face carved on this punga suggests that it was an important one, probably belonging to a chief.
Kuwaha Pataka - The carved doorway of a pataka (raised storehouse) marks an important symbolic threshold. The carved figure presiding over the doorway represents a dified creator-ancestor of the tribe.
Harimate tea towel - Harimate is a tupuna or ancestor and her image is sacred, which means it should not have been used as some decorating motif, let alone on tea towel. This piece was purchased from a second hand shop (1960).
(To be continued)
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