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Treasure Box (Wakahuia)
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.
About this work
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 Zealand in 1769-70.
Cleveland Museum of Art’s own descriptionCredit lineTreasure Box (Wakahuia), 1800s. Polynesia, New Zealand, Maori people, 19th century. Wood with abalone shell; overall: 17.2 cm (6 3/4 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, The Mary Spedding Milliken Memorial Collection, Gift of William Mathewson Milliken, 1961.405
