Box

56.25.551a-b

Information

A rounded boat-shaped waka huia (treasure box) with humanoid female heads at each end of the base forming handles (their bodies are carved on the base). The lid also has looped handles at each end. All carved decoration is on the outside. The main design elements are four doubles spirals on the lid, one in each quarter, with a line of whakarare (a distorted pattern where several parallel ridges regularly curve across a notched ridge between them) along the centre and part of a whakarare across the middle (connecting with whakarare on the base). The base has whakarare along the centre and across the middle. All are superimposed on rauponga (several parallel ridges with a notched ridge in between), arranged diagonally, in curves, in each quarter. The eyes are shell-inlaid with serrated edges. There is a hole in the side of the base, with old repairs, and the lid does not fit very well. There are traces of red paint in the haehae (grooves).