Maori Hei Tiki

Hei Tiki
Maori people
New Zealand, Polynesia.
Nephrite with a fine patina of wear and age.
Te Puawaitanga (the flowering) period (1500 – 1800 AD).
Height: 10,5 cm.
Provenance :
Private collection Maryland, USA.

The exceptional proportions, as well as the quality of the carving and the beauty of the stone, place the present hei tiki amongst the most remarkable treasures (taonga) of Maori art, an object, which superbly combines the principles of power and ornament and beauty.

A superb, type I, Hei Tiki in the form of a stylized human figure with head turned towards the left shoulder. A bi-conical suspension hole is drilled through the top of the forehead along with the trace of a previous piercing probably in the form of an extended tab. The large oval head is detached from the shoulders showing the neck which is a rare typology. The face offers a powerful grimace with the nose carved with a double crossbar and the heart-shaped open mouth showing the canines and the curved, forked tongue (indicative of the power of political speech) over the pointed chin. The eyes are deeply set with large circular wells and prominent pupils under strong brows. The torso is finely rendered with the ribcage apparent, powerful shoulders, and the hands akimbo on the strong arched thighs. The three fingers of each hand are well detached from each other and the elbows, knees and ankles, and triple toes are indicated. The female gender is indicated by the presence of a well-defined vulva under the belly.

Object Presented by:
Anthony JP Meyer
M.: + 33 (0) 6 80 10 80 22