Maori Pendant, New Zealand

Robert Hales, London
Kevin Conru, London, presumably acquired from the above
Abraham Rosman and Paula Rubel, New York, aquired from the above on February 1, 2001

The hei tiki pictured here exhibits the deep, fluctuating color of greenstone, or pounamu, typical of these pendants. Hei signifies pendant, and tiki refers to the human form of these objects, although exactly what these valued items represent remains unknown. This anthropomorphic figure tilts its head to the left and holds its hands on its hips. Experiencing a tiki is just as much tactile as it is visual, with its smooth surface and curved features.

These pendants were heirlooms that represented the wearer’s lineage and were believed to possess mystical qualities. They were passed down through the generations and in this way gained ancestral mana. Throughout history, there have been accounts of both women and men wearing these treasured objects; in the late 1700s, James Cook reportedly observed mostly men wearing tiki, while by the late 1800s women also owned these treasured items, keeping these pendants close for protection especially during pregnancy and childbirth.