'Hei Tiki amulets such as this one
have become an iconic emblem of
both the Maori people, who settled
New Zealand around 1000 A.D.,
and the modern island nation as a
whole. Although they are well-
known today, their origins are
obscure and their meaning
remains debatable. The Maori word
“hei” refers to any ornament worn
around the neck, while the term
“tiki” applies more generally to
carved human figures made
throughout Polynesia. Tiki is also
the name of the first human in
Maori mythology. The prevailing
theory regarding the meaning of
these amulets is that they are
depictions of this first man.
Another theory, due in large part
to their form, is that they
symbolize human embryos and, as
such, should only be worn by
women. However, this contention
is contradicted by the fact that
early European visitors to New
Zealand recorded both men and
women wearing such talismans. It
is quite possible that the squat
form of the figure is a byproduct of
the density of the stone and the
difficulty of carving and not a
conscious effort on the part of the
artist to depict a fetus. Hei tiki
exist not only in jade, but also in a
variety of other precious materials
including bone and ivory. In all
cases, the inherent value of the
materials used imply that tiki were
prestige objects, worn by the elite
of Maori society and likely passed
down from generation to
generation. This assertion is
reinforced by the fact that in some
cases the suspension perforations
have been worn through, implying
usage beyond that of a single
lifespan.
- (CK.0874)
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