Treasure Box Lid

A rectangular lid for a wakahuia (treasure box), made from one piece of carved wood. The background surface pattern is pākati (dog tooth notches). In the center of the lid are two wheku (carved face that depicts an ancestor) figures feet to feet, each with three-fingered hands placed on their stomachs.

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 (spiritual power) of their owners and ancestors, the wakahuia itself became a sacred object, symbolising the transmission of identity, status, and history through generations. 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.