Treasure Box (Wakahuia)
Unknown Artist
1800s
Medium
wood with abalone shell
Dimensions
d. 17.2 cm, l. 42.9 cm
Classification
Sculpture
Department
Oceania
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
The Mary Spedding Milliken Memorial Collection, Gift of William Mathewson Milliken
Accession Number
1961.405
About this artwork
Decorated with low-relief spiral designs and small carved figures at each end, the treasure box was used to store ornaments worn by chiefs: feathers of the huia bird, combs, and pendants (hei-tiki). Because the heads and necks of high-ranking Maori chiefs were tapu, or sacred, their personal adornments were dangerous to children or individuals of lower rank. Treasure boxes were therefore hung from the rafters of the chief's house. Boxes like this one were in use when Captain Cook visited New Zea...