Kete whakairo (patterned bag)

This kete whakairo is one of the finest examples of its type in the collections. If it's given provenance is correct it may also be the oldest documented kete in Te Papa's collection. It is woven from very fine strips of plain undyed, and black and brown dyed, strips of harakeke. It also has one small irregular rectangular block pattern on one side.

It was purchased at auction in 1977 by the Museum of New Zealand. At the time of purchase it had a label attached that read, "Lent by C. H. Chapman to the society for the Propagation of the Gospel for the Croydon Exhibition 1833."