Personal ornaments are important objects in Maori culture. Often worn on the head, the most sacred part of the body, these absorb the supernatural power (mana) of their wearers and are carefully handled when not in use. To contain ornaments and other valuable objects, carvers formerly fashioned treasure boxes that were hung from the rafters of houses to keep their precious and powerful contents out of reach. As the boxes were often seen from below, their undersides were also extensively carved. Shallow rectangular treasure boxes such as this work were called papahou. The designs here consist primarily of human figures (tiki) that likely represent ancestors. The lid is adorned with a handle formed by three reclining tiki, two of whom are depicted in the act of procreation, perhaps symbolizing the continuity of the mana of the ancestors through their living descendants.
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Artwork Details
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Title:Treasure Box (Papahou)
Date:18th century
Geography:New Zealand, Bay of Plenty region
Culture:Maori people
Medium:Wood, shell
Dimensions:H. 3 1/4 in. × W. 4 in. × D. 17 1/2 in. (8.3 × 10.2 × 44.5 cm) H. 5 1/2 in. w/mount
Classification:Wood-Containers
Credit Line:The Michael C. Rockefeller Memorial Collection, Purchase, Nelson A. Rockefeller Gift, 1960
Object Number:1978.412.755a, b
(Sotheby's, New York, 1960); The Museum of Primitive Art, New York, 1960–1978
Museum of Primitive Art. "Three Regions of Melanesian Art," September 21, 1960–November 13, 1960.
Museum of Primitive Art. "Masterpieces from the South Seas in the Collection of the MOPA," May 19, 1965–October 3, 1965.
El Paso Museum of Art. "One World," March 12, 1968–May 12, 1968.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art. "Art of Oceania, Africa and the Americas from The Museum of Primitive Art," May 10–August 17, 1969.
New York. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. "Sculpture of Oceania," April 4–September 5, 1972.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art. "Art of Oceania, Africa and the Americas," September 22, 1972–1974.
American Federation of Arts. "Primitive Art/Masterworks," January 5, 1975–May 15, 1977.
Seattle Art Museum. "Primitive Art/Masterworks," January 5, 1975–February 16, 1975.
Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. "Primitive Art/Masterworks," March 23, 1975–May 4, 1975.
Dallas Museum of Art. "Primitive Art/Masterworks," June 8, 1975–July 20, 1975.
Art Institute of Chicago. "Primitive Art/Masterworks," August 25, 1975–October 10, 1975.
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. "Primitive Art/Masterworks," November 9, 1975–December 21, 1975.
Toledo Museum of Art. "Primitive Art/Masterworks," April 11, 1976–May 25, 1976.
Walker Art Center. "Primitive Art/Masterworks," June 27, 1976–August 8, 1976.
Denver Art Museum. "Primitive Art/Masterworks," September 10, 1976–November 7, 1976.
de Young Museum, Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. "Primitive Art/Masterworks," March 12, 1977–May 15, 1977.
Wardwell, Allen. The Sculpture of Polynesia. Chicago: Art Institute of Chicago, 1967, p. 87, no. 113.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Art of Oceania, Africa, and the Americas from the Museum of Primitive Art. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1969, no. 28.
Newton, Douglas. Masterpieces of Primitive Art: The Nelson A. Rockefeller Collection. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1978, p. 143.
Kjellgren, Eric. Oceania: Art of the Pacific Islands in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York and New Haven: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2007, pp. 314–315, no. 191.
Kjellgren, Eric. How to Read Oceanic Art. How to Read 3. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2014, p. 168.
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