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History

The Tiki embodies the typical characteristics of the image often seen in Classic Maori wood sculpture.

On larger carvings the glistening oaua (abalone) shell eyes, the open mouth and the protruding tongue showed an expression of ferocious defiance. The out-thrust tongue could also be an expression of magic and provided at least some protection from evil forces.

The spirals serve as points of movement or joint marks, for the jaw, shoulders & hips.

This image is of East Coast style from a feather box lid or whakahuia, in the collection of the Pitt Rivers Museum, Oxford.

Only New Zealand native timbers are used for carvings, usually kauri.

Size

Length: 340mm

Width: 210mm

Pricing

$800 NZ

Click image to enlarge