Waka Huia, D23.707

Canoe shaped deep box with flat lid. Beautiful specimen. Has deep U shaped cross-section with flattened base. Lid has lensoid outline with squared off ends,. Lid has ridge along centre line carved with four manaia figures devouring each other. Lid surface each side is laterally divided into four sections with a complex straps of ridge and dot motif ornamentation. This pattern is continued on the box itself. The terminal heads are large and have no eyes. Their tongues protrude and curve back to join the box to form the lateral perforation for the suspension cord. Painted black on the ridges and red on the dots. Wood totara (Podocarpus totara).

Locality: New Zealand