Smith Art Gallery & Museum | Details | Papahou (treasure box)

Sidebar content	Main content
Actions Displays	Papahou (treasure box) Remove from selection Add to selection Reproduction Download mediaDownload as zip file Object number06261.6 TitlePapahou (treasure box) CreatorMāori (maker)‎ DescriptionThis beautiful rectangular papahou was made by the Māori people from the Northland area of New Zealand’s north island. A precious object in itself, the papahou is a treasure box lovingly crafted to hold personal items such as hei tiki (pendants made from greenstone), amulets, combs and feathers from the hūia bird. This fine example was made in the mid-19th century. It is totally covered in elaborate relief carvings, painstakingly chiselled from the wood. A central linear decoration divides it into two; there are intricate double ended spirals and at either end a band of wide-eyed, stylised faces with pointed tongues. Papahou were designed to be hung from the rafters of a house; seen usually from below, this explains why the bottom is as elaborately decorated as the top. Storing them up high kept all the treasures within safe from harm: for Māori, these personal objects (taonga) absorb the power (mana) of the wearer. This is especially the case with taonga worn on the head, the most sacred (tapu) part of the body. Papahou were valued possessions, carefully passed down through families for generations. Production placeNew Zealand Northland Production period18th Century Object nameBox, papahou Religion MaterialWood Dimensions whole Length: 585 mm whole Depth: 130 mm whole Height: 70 mm

Reproduction

Download mediaDownload as zip file

Object number06261.6

TitlePapahou (treasure box)

CreatorMāori (maker)‎

DescriptionThis beautiful rectangular papahou was made by the Māori people from the Northland area of New Zealand’s north island. A precious object in itself, the papahou is a treasure box lovingly crafted to hold personal items such as hei tiki (pendants made from greenstone), amulets, combs and feathers from the hūia bird. This fine example was made in the mid-19th century. It is totally covered in elaborate relief carvings, painstakingly chiselled from the wood. A central linear decoration divides it into two; there are intricate double ended spirals and at either end a band of wide-eyed, stylised faces with pointed tongues. Papahou were designed to be hung from the rafters of a house; seen usually from below, this explains why the bottom is as elaborately decorated as the top. Storing them up high kept all the treasures within safe from harm: for Māori, these personal objects (taonga) absorb the power (mana) of the wearer. This is especially the case with taonga worn on the head, the most sacred (tapu) part of the body. Papahou were valued possessions, carefully passed down through families for generations.

Production placeNew Zealand Northland

Production period18th Century

Object nameBox, papahou

Religion

MaterialWood

Dimensions

whole Length: 585 mm
whole Depth: 130 mm
whole Height: 70 mm