Wooden box

Museum number: UEM190 b

Material: Wood

Region and culture: New Zealand - Maori 

Description: Treasure box or wakahuia from Hokianga, Aotearoa New Zealand. Dated to the Classical Maori Period (Te Puawiatanga 1500-1800). Considered to be a beautiful and functional taonga, the treasure box was used to store important valuables (taonga) such as nephrite ornaments (e.g. hei tiki) and feathers. The box was not necessarily carved by a specialist, but could have been made by people with a different range of skills, staying within the carving style of their own tribes. It was most likely carved with stone tools, probably nephrite. The box is associated with chiefs, which also made the box tapu. Meaning that accidents and death may occur if the object is not treated in a correct manner. The curvilinear patterns with the connected spirals could have both tribal affiliation and cosmological representation. With the box and its contents being tapu, measures were made for it to not be disturbed in any way. It would have been hung up from the ceiling beams of the house of the owners', where the bottom of the box could be admired for its wonderful carvings and also not be touched by anyone.