Description
Book SynopsisAn Expert Guide to the History and the Role of a Prized Jade Māori Art Form. Of all Māori personal adornments, the human figure pendants known as hei tiki are the most famous, highly prized and culturally iconic. This book examines and celebrates the long history of hei tiki and the enduring cultural potency of these taonga or cultural treasures. This first book on hei tiki for 60 years is written by the Acting Senior Curator Matauranga Māori at Te Papa, who is a hei tiki expert, and includes a large selection of hei tiki, most from the taonga Māori collections of Te Papa, whichis the largest in New Zealand and very likely the world. Many are published here for the first time, including some with exalted histories of ownership. It also covers the work of leading contemporary hei tiki makers.
Trade ReviewSelected as one of the Best Books of the Year by a panel of NZ Listener reviewers: 'A welcome, some would say long-overdue, insight into the history, mystery, meaning and manufacture of the varied forms and features of our most ubiquitous Maori motif by Te Papa curator Dougal Austin, supported by a stunning gallery of photographed hei tiki.'; 'This well-researched and well-written book discussed their value and status as taonga; their use and meaning; their various types and shapes; and their rich history ... adds a brilliant series of photographs showing the making of a hei tiki by hand ...' - Art News; 'Lavishly illustrated, with many of the hei tiki pictured in larger-than-life-size, full-page glory, the book has some claim to being described as a taonga in its own right.' - North & South.
Table of ContentsHe kupu whakataki Introduction 9 01/ Nga whakamaramatanga Use and meaning 15 02/ Nga momo me nga ahua Types and shapes 27 03/ Te putakenga mai Physical origins 49 04/ Nga korero kairangi Exalted histories 93 05/ Nga tohu a-iwi Tribal styles 117 06/ Nga tai whakaawe External versus local influence 139 07/ Ka whiti ka pumau, 1750-1900 Change and continuity, 1750-1900 153 08/ Te whanako toi taketake, nga tau 1890-inaianei Cultural appropriation, 1890s-present 185 09/ Te hei tiki me te Maori, 1900-inaianei Maori and hei tiki, 1900-present 199 He kupu whakakapi Epilogue 258 Appendices, Notes, Glossary, Select bibliography, Image credits, Acknowledgements, Index 263
