item details
NameHei tiki (pendant in human form)
ProductionUnknown; carver; 1600-1850; New Zealand
Classificationpendants, pectorals
Materialskawakawa (stone), pāua (abalone shell), pounamu
Techniquescarving
DimensionsOverall: 77mm (width), 133mm (length), 20mm (depth), 306g (weight)
Registration NumberOL000084
Credit lineOldman Collection. Gift of the New Zealand Government, 1992
Overview
Influences and ancestors: Pounamu
Pounamu has long been the most valued natural material for Māori. Taonga (treasures) made from the stone, including hei tiki (pendants in human form), hold great meaning as symbols of connection to the ancestors and the land. With every generation, they gain in prestige, carrying with them the stories and essence of those who have gone before.