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Actions Displays	Māori Skirt Remove from selection Add to selection Reproduction Download mediaDownload as zip file Object number04547 TitleMāori Skirt CreatorMāori (maker)‎ DescriptionThis is a piupiu, a traditional skirt made and worn by the Māori people of New Zealand. They can be worn around the waist but also over one shoulder and can be made from a range of materials and in a variety of styles. The word piupiu means ‘to swing’ – it is easy to picture the strands of this skirt swirling gracefully when worn during a ceremony or public performance. It is made from fringes of palm leaves. Although faded now, you can still see the traces of the red and purple dyes used over 150 years ago, which indicate that this skirt was made for a woman. It has a delicate string of beautiful cowrie shells around the waistband. Māori clothing was traditionally made from natural fibres using local plants, along with feathers and animal skins. There was huge variety in what they made: cloaks and capes, aprons and kilt-like skirts, belts, sandals and jewellery. Designs and patterns varied too and often held spiritual significance as well as demonstrating the status of the person wearing them. Clothes were thought to enhance the wearer’s authority, their personal power, their mana. Production placeNew Zealand Production date 1850 - 1872 Object nameSkirt Costume MaterialPalm Leaf Dimensions whole Width: 710 mm whole Length: 470 mm

Reproduction

Download mediaDownload as zip file

Object number04547

TitleMāori Skirt

CreatorMāori (maker)‎

DescriptionThis is a piupiu, a traditional skirt made and worn by the Māori people of New Zealand. They can be worn around the waist but also over one shoulder and can be made from a range of materials and in a variety of styles. The word piupiu means ‘to swing’ – it is easy to picture the strands of this skirt swirling gracefully when worn during a ceremony or public performance. It is made from fringes of palm leaves. Although faded now, you can still see the traces of the red and purple dyes used over 150 years ago, which indicate that this skirt was made for a woman. It has a delicate string of beautiful cowrie shells around the waistband. Māori clothing was traditionally made from natural fibres using local plants, along with feathers and animal skins. There was huge variety in what they made: cloaks and capes, aprons and kilt-like skirts, belts, sandals and jewellery. Designs and patterns varied too and often held spiritual significance as well as demonstrating the status of the person wearing them. Clothes were thought to enhance the wearer’s authority, their personal power, their mana.

Production placeNew Zealand

Production date 1850 - 1872

Object nameSkirt

Costume

MaterialPalm Leaf

Dimensions

whole Width: 710 mm
whole Length: 470 mm