DOI Heft:
No. 91 (Oct., 1900)
DOI Artikel:Praetorius, Charles J.: Maori wood carving
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.19786#0030
Maori IVt
Maoris would suggest a Polynesian origin. As
a people, they have produced some of the finest
art under barbaric conditions.
The present intention is not to make an exhaus-
tive history of their art from the early times, but
simply a record of some of the finer examples of
carved wood, most of which are in the British and
other museums.
All kinds of wood of the Island seem to have
been used for carving, some of the principal ones
being Totara, Kauri (pine), Manuka, Aki.
The tools used by the old carvers were few and
ingenious : the illustration (for which I am in-
debted to Mr. J. Edge-Partington's "Album of
d Carving
for drilling stone only, but it is probable that,
having such a tool in their possession, they would
use it for wood also. Again, there is no doubt that
the greenstone adze was another tool much used in
the rough hewing of their carvings, although it was
not really, a wood-carving tool as we understand
the term; but remembering that an object had to
be cut from a log, often a large log, it is only
natural that the adze should have been much used.
All the finest carving was done with these primitive
tools, and long before Europeans came to the
Island.
Since they have had the advantage of iron and
steel tools, and European civilisation, the carvers
STYLE OF CARVING CALLED " KOHAI" FROM A DRAWING BY C J. PR/ETORIUS
the Pacific") shows a few types of tools used in
the old days (see page 20).
Whale's bone, basaltic stone, flint, green jade
and quartzite are the materials of which the tools
were frequently made.
The two drills shown in the illustration, figures
Nos. 5 and 6, are said, by some, to have been used
have ceased to labour, and the individuality and
excellence of their work has rapidly disappeared.
Only a little inferior carving is now done, obviously
for the market.
Although in their designs the Maoris had many
circles and curves, no compass or measuring tool
was ever seen in the hand of a carver, who relied on
CARVED FEATHER-BOX
l6
FROM A DRAWING BY C J. PR^TORIUS
Maoris would suggest a Polynesian origin. As
a people, they have produced some of the finest
art under barbaric conditions.
The present intention is not to make an exhaus-
tive history of their art from the early times, but
simply a record of some of the finer examples of
carved wood, most of which are in the British and
other museums.
All kinds of wood of the Island seem to have
been used for carving, some of the principal ones
being Totara, Kauri (pine), Manuka, Aki.
The tools used by the old carvers were few and
ingenious : the illustration (for which I am in-
debted to Mr. J. Edge-Partington's "Album of
d Carving
for drilling stone only, but it is probable that,
having such a tool in their possession, they would
use it for wood also. Again, there is no doubt that
the greenstone adze was another tool much used in
the rough hewing of their carvings, although it was
not really, a wood-carving tool as we understand
the term; but remembering that an object had to
be cut from a log, often a large log, it is only
natural that the adze should have been much used.
All the finest carving was done with these primitive
tools, and long before Europeans came to the
Island.
Since they have had the advantage of iron and
steel tools, and European civilisation, the carvers
STYLE OF CARVING CALLED " KOHAI" FROM A DRAWING BY C J. PR/ETORIUS
the Pacific") shows a few types of tools used in
the old days (see page 20).
Whale's bone, basaltic stone, flint, green jade
and quartzite are the materials of which the tools
were frequently made.
The two drills shown in the illustration, figures
Nos. 5 and 6, are said, by some, to have been used
have ceased to labour, and the individuality and
excellence of their work has rapidly disappeared.
Only a little inferior carving is now done, obviously
for the market.
Although in their designs the Maoris had many
circles and curves, no compass or measuring tool
was ever seen in the hand of a carver, who relied on
CARVED FEATHER-BOX
l6
FROM A DRAWING BY C J. PR^TORIUS