Tickets
English
DonateMembershipTickets

Papahou (treasure box)

18th century
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 352
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.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Papahou (treasure box)
  • Artist: Māori artist
  • Date: 18th century
  • Geography: Aotearoa New Zealand, Bay of Plenty region
  • Culture: Maori people
  • Medium: Wood, shell (pāua)
  • 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
  • Curatorial Department: The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Amo (house post figure), Māori artist, Wood, Maori people, Te Arawa
Amo (house post figure)
Māori artist
ca. 1800
Carrying Basket (Kete Whakairo), Kerehi Makiwhara, Fiber, Maori people
Carrying Basket (Kete Whakairo)
Kerehi Makiwhara
mid-20th century
Box for Inkstone and Writing Implements (Suzuribako), Wood, lacquer sprinkled with gold, black lacquer, and shell inlay, Japan
Box for Inkstone and Writing Implements (Suzuribako)
Japan
19th century
Flute (Putorino), Māori artist, Wood, fiber, Maori people
Flute (Putorino)
Māori artist
ca. 1800–1820
Treasure Box (Wakahuia), Wood, shell, feathers, fiber, Maori people
Treasure Box (Wakahuia)
Maori people
1850s

Related Content

Perspectives

Articles, audio, and video from The Met's online magazine.

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please contact us using the form below. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.

Send feedback

Content Notice

The Metropolitan Museum of Art presents over 5,000 years of art from around the world, and our online collection reflects ongoing work conducted over the course of our more than 150-year history. You may encounter objects or images that may be inappropriate for some viewers or information that may be outdated.