Tane (Silhouette)

Traditional Maori tattooing, or moko, was an art form that involved carving grooves into the skin using a chisel (uhi) made from albatross bone. A tohunga-tamoko (moko specialist) would then apply pigment into these grooves, often using a mixture derived from awheto (vegetable caterpillar - a type of fungus) and various types of burnt materials or charcoal. Each moko was unique, typically reflecting the wearer’s status, lineage, and social rank.

Heru (ornamental combs) were used by Maori men to fasten their long hair into topknots. More than decorative, heru also signified the rank of the wearer, and were traditionally crafted from wood or prized whale bone.