Anthropomorphic amulet pendant «hei-tiki»
Maori, Neuseeland
greenish nephrit («pounamu»), with milk-white inclusions, highly abstracted human shape, the head turned sideways, completed by a symmetrical body with handle-shaped arms and oval arranged legs, the eyes accentuated by red sealing-wax, strong traces of wear, eylet for support broken out, on small metal base; the original making of this charms can be ascribed to the protective deity «Hina», responsible for giving birth and female handcraft. The fertility amulets represent supernatural beings and were family heirlooms. Each had its own name. Whenever they passed into another generation, they gained additional power «mana». In pre-contact times, the figural «hei-tiki» chest pendant was reserved for the highest-ranking nobles. Through european influence the Maori began to democratize the production and wearing of «tikis». The pendants were worn by both men and women, suspended from the neck with a cord of flax which passed through a hole on top of the head.
H: 7 cm, end of 18th/1st half of the 19th century (4673/002)

Lit.: Meyer, Anthony J.P., Ozeanische Kunst, Vol. II, Köln 1995, p. 552, ill. 631; Wardwell, Allen, Island Ancestors, Oceanic Art from the Masco Collection, University of Washington Press 1994, p. 208
Skinner, H. D., The Maori Hei-Tiki, Otago Museum, Dunedin 1966