Treasure Box Lid

An oval wakahuia (treasure box) made of carved wood. The surface decoration is primarily composed of a rauponga pattern (rows of haehae alternating with rows of pakati). There are carved figures on either end of the box. The bodies of the figures are underneath the box, with the heads extending up near the rim. On the lid of the box, there are two human figures (in coitus) in high relief. The carving of the upper part of the body and of the head of the male figure is unfinished. One end of the lid is cracked and chipped. The box has been covered in red pigment. There is no background surface decoration. The bodies are covered in rauponga.

A wakahuia is a carved wooden box used to contain personal belongings that are important to the owner. These items were generally used for adornment and could be feathers that were used in the hair, pendants, combs, etc. Because the items kept within the wakahuia carried the mana of their owners and ancestors, the wakahuia itself became a sacred object, symbolising the transmission of identity and status. Wakahuia were typically suspended from the ceilings of Māori homes, signifying both protection and reverence for their contents. There was also a practical aspect of the box being suspended, as this meant that people could see the intricate carvings underneath. A wakahuia served not only a practical role but also a deeply spiritual one, preserving and honouring the mana of those who had come before.