Kete whakairo (patterned basket) named Koekoeā

Silver and copper kete whakairo named Koekoeā.

This exquisite kete whakairo ( patterned basket) was woven using copper and fine silver wire by artist/jeweller Matthew McIntyre-Wilson (Taranaki, Ngamahanga, Titahi).

Koekoeā is an early exemplary example of Matthew's early work into contemporary renditions of Māori fibre arts using copper and precious metals. McIntyre-Wilson draws influence from ancestral work that he studies in museum collections and also acknowledges the late, gifted male weaver Rangi Kiu, for inspiring his directionin Māori weaving.

This specific variation of the pattern was developed by Matthew McIntyre Wilson around 2008 and is a manipulation of the existing pattern from the Mick Pendegrast book, Raranga Whaikairo [Hai Taimana, Pattern no 83] combined with influences of more classic variations of the ara awa pattern.

"The kete was made in 2010. The tentative title I use for this kete is "koekoeā" because the pattern reminds me of the patterning on the bird...The pattern of this kete is part of a series of patterns that uses subtle shifts on familar patterns."

Matthew McIntyre Wilson, 2010