New Zealand Maori artefacts matau (fish hook), pa kahawai (fishing lure)fishing equipment

There are a diverse collection of objects that represent the

culture and history of the Maori people of New Zealand. These artefacts vary in

type, style, and function, and include the following:

Weapons: Maori weapons were traditionally made from wood,

bone, and stone, and included clubs, spears, and weapons with serrated edges,

such as the patu and mere.

Carvings: Maori carvings are highly symbolic and often

depict stories and legends from Maori mythology. These carvings can be found on

buildings, canoes, and other objects, and are often intricately detailed.

Jewellery: Maori jewellery often features intricate designs

and is made from materials such as bone, stone, and shell. Pendants, earrings,

and bracelets are all common forms of Maori jewellery.

Taonga puoro (musical instruments): These are traditional

Maori musical instruments, such as the p?t?tara (conch shell trumpet) and the

k?auau (flute). Maori music is an important more...

Under the New Zealand Protected Objects Act 1975, administered by the New Zealand Ministry for Culture & Heritage, the sale, trade, export and ownership of some Maori artefact are regulated
Objects over 50 years old that also have Maori cultural significance must be inspected by Ministry for Culture & Heritage, and if significant the object will be allocated a "Y" number, a unique identification number. Artefacts that have a Y number can only be purchased by those that are registered collectors with the Ministry for Culture and Heritage.

158 items found, 97-158 shown:

These items have been sold, and the description, image and price are for reference purposes only.

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Early Stone Lure. A rare, early form of lure predating the…

Early Stone Lure with Bone Hook

Early Stone Lure. A rare, early form of lure predating the later wood and shell lures; triangular in crosssection with sides rounded. Flat side or bottom face is convex; fractured, pierced hole to back end designed to facilitate a natural fibre cord;…

Pa Kahawai Fishing Lure. A fine, early trolling lure with…

Paua inlay wooden trolling lure

Pa Kahawai Fishing Lure. A fine, early trolling lure with wooden body; paua-shell 'flashing' inlay to in-curve; bone barb and muka binding and line; small traces of muka teaser remain. Collection number inscribed in black ink: 'Web Coll 1105'. Length 9.2…

Pa Kahawai Fishing Lure. A fine, early trolling lure with…

Paua-shell inlaid wooden trolling lure

Pa Kahawai Fishing Lure. A fine, early trolling lure with wooden body; paua-shell 'flashing' inlay to in-curve; bone barb and muka binding and line; small traces of muka teaser remain. Old collection label inscribed in blue ink: '997'. Length 9.3 cm.…

Pa Kahawai Fishing Lure. A fine, early trolling lure with…

Paua Inlay Kahawai Trolling Lure

Pa Kahawai Fishing Lure. A fine, early trolling lure with wooden body; paua-shell 'flashing' inlay to in-curve; bone barb with muka binding and line. Length 12 cm. Width 1.7 cm. Private Collection, New Zealand

Pa Kahawai Fishing Lure. A rare, blacklip pearl-shell-bodied…

Rare Pa Kahawai Fishing Lure

Pa Kahawai Fishing Lure. A rare, blacklip pearl-shell-bodied trolling lure with reflective 'flashing' side to in-curve; bone barb with fine binding. Old collection label inscribed in red ink: '461'. Webster collection stamp. Length 11.4 cm. Width 2 cm.…

Pa Kahawai Fishing Lure. A contact period trolling lure with…

Paua-shell Kahawai Trolling Lure

Pa Kahawai Fishing Lure. A contact period trolling lure with shell body; paua-shell 'flashing' inlay to in-curve; backbone made from an old nail; muka binding and line. Collection number inscribed in black ink: 'Web Coll 1274'. Length 10.5 cm. Width 1.8…

Pa Kahawai Fishing Lure. Classic form with wooden body;…

Paua Inlay Kahawai Lure

Pa Kahawai Fishing Lure. Classic form with wooden body; reflective paua inlay to in-curve. Barbed bone point with muka lashing. Length 9 cm. Width 1.9 cm. Private collection, New Zealand

Pa Kahawai Fishing Lure. Light, wooden body and reflective paua…

Reflective Wooden Kahawai Lure

Pa Kahawai Fishing Lure. Light, wooden body and reflective paua inlay; barbed iron with muka lashing. Length 12 cm. Width 9 cm. Kenneth Athol Webster collection No. 583, New Zealand. The Brad Bradley collection circa 1960s. Private collection, New Zealand

Pa Kahawai Fishing Lure. A fine, early trolling lure with…

Paua Inlay Kahawai Lure

Pa Kahawai Fishing Lure. A fine, early trolling lure with wooden body; paua-shell 'flashing' inlay to in-curve; bone barb with muka binding and line. Collection number inscribed in white and black ink: 'Web.Coll 1479 N.Z. 29'. Length 10.5 cm. Width 2 cm.…

Early Chatham Islands Bone Hook. A Moriori bone hook of…

Chatham Islands Bone Hook

Early Chatham Islands Bone Hook. A Moriori bone hook of flattened cylindrical form tapering to a point at one end; finely carved grooves for attachment at top. Warm, early patina with signs of much usage. Length 5.5 cm. Width 4.7 cm. Private collection,…

Matau Fish Hook. A bone hook of flattened cylindrical form…

Matau Fish Hook: Ancient Artifact from New Zealand

Matau Fish Hook. A bone hook of flattened cylindrical form tapering to a point at one end; carved notch for attachment at top; incised detailing on outcurve of the barb. Early, worn patina. Height 6.5 cm. Width 4.5 cm. Private collection, New Zealand

Matau Fish Hook. A fine, early matau made from a trained branch…

Early Matau Fish Hook with Carved Spirals

Matau Fish Hook. A fine, early matau made from a trained branch or root. Dark wooden shank that extends to form the point limb; missing point; carved notch for binding evident. Carved spirals on the shank. Lashed snood, no line. Inscribed in black ink:…

Significant Collection of Amateur Field Finds, 1920. Five…

Amateur Field Finds Collection Including Whalebone Hook

Significant Collection of Amateur Field Finds, 1920. Five artefacts mounted on old card including 'The Milford Hook' thought to be the second-largest whalebone hook in existence. Offers a refined orthodox style; each end terminates with utilitarian barb…

Matau Fish Hook. A fish-hook of good proportions with a curved,…

Matau Fish Hook

Matau Fish Hook. A fish-hook of good proportions with a curved, gnarled wooden shank fashioned from a native hardwood sapling; iron hook attached to the shank with muka (flax fibre) cord. Collection number inscribed in black ink: 'Webster Coll 543'.…

Matau Fish Hooks (2). Early contact period; elaborately…

Elaborate Fish Hooks from Chatham Islands

Matau Fish Hooks (2). Early contact period; elaborately rendered one-piece bone fish-hook with double intertwined kaniwha 'barbs'. End finely carved for line attachment. Inscribed in black ink: 'Web Col 1247'. Early contact period; elaborately rendered…

Pohau manga barracuda lure. Rare, fully intact barracuda lure…

Rare Pohau Manga Barracuda Lure with Serrated Bone Point

Pohau manga barracuda lure. Rare, fully intact barracuda lure with large, straight shank and serrated bone point. An antero-posterior hole is in shank where the line goes through and runs along a groove. Inscribed in white ink: 'Web Coll 383'. Length 13…

Superb Matau Fish Hook. A rare, masterfully carved one-piece,…

Masterfully Carved Whalebone Fish Hook

Superb Matau Fish Hook. A rare, masterfully carved one-piece, non-barbed bait hook made from whalebone; enhanced with raised, carved decoration on the out-curve and at the apex of the shank; fine but robust muka cord attached to top. Signs of significant…

Large Matau Fish Hook. A fish-hook of large proportions; wooden…

Large Matau Fish Hook from 18th Century New Zealand

Large Matau Fish Hook. A fish-hook of large proportions; wooden shank fashioned from a native hardwood sapling. Offering a dual barb. Collection number inscribed in black and white ink and paint: 'Web Coll 594'. 18th century. Length 20 cm. Width 14 cm.…

Superb Matau Fish Hook. A large, early composite fish-hook with…

Superb Matau Fish Hook

Superb Matau Fish Hook. A large, early composite fish-hook with curved wooden shank fashioned from a native hardwood sapling; shaft superbly carved with a fine head. A length of cord (aho) is attached to the top. The small barb is shell with serrated…

Pa Kahawai with wooden shank, paua shell inlay & iron hook…

Paua Inlaid Kahawai Hook with Wooden Shank - Y10621

Pa Kahawai with wooden shank, paua shell inlay & iron hook Y10621. Length 9 cm

Pa Kahawai (Fishing lure) with paua shell shank, iron hook with…

Paua Shell Pa Kahawai Lure with Muka Line

Pa Kahawai (Fishing lure) with paua shell shank, iron hook with muka lashing and original muka line. Y13647. Length 13 cm

Jade pendant in shape of hei matau (the Fishhook) made form New…

Pounamu Hei Matau Pendant for Maori Protection and Prosperity

Jade pendant in shape of hei matau (the Fishhook) made form New Zealand pounamu greenstone jade Maori's wear hei matau for protection and prosperity

Pa kahawai - fishing lure. Trolling lure with wooden body;…

Paua-shell trolling lure with bone barb

Pa kahawai - fishing lure. Trolling lure with wooden body; paua-shell flashing, inlay to in-curve; bone barb with muka binding and line. Length 11.2 cm. Width 2.2 cm.

Pa kahawai - fishing lure. Large and fine example with wooden…

Paua-Shell Kahawai Lure with Bone Barb

Pa kahawai - fishing lure. Large and fine example with wooden body; paua-shell flashing, inlay to in-curve; bone barb with muka binding and line. Length 11.6 cm. Width 1.8 cm.

Pa kahawai - fishing lure. Trolling lure with wooden body;…

Paua Inlay Trolling Lure with Bone Barb

Pa kahawai - fishing lure. Trolling lure with wooden body; paua-shell flashing, inlay to in-curve; bone barb with muka binding and line. Length 8.5 cm. Width 1.6 cm.

Pa kahawai - fishing lure. Fine, trolling lure with wooden body;…

Paua-Shell Trolling Lure with Whale Bone Barb

Pa kahawai - fishing lure. Fine, trolling lure with wooden body; paua-shell flashing, inlay to in-curve; whale bone barb with muka binding and line. Length 10 cm. Width 1.7 cm.

Large group of artefacts, including lure and pendant fragments,…

Tamaki Estuary Artefacts Collection

Large group of artefacts, including lure and pendant fragments, obsidian blades, Moa bone, musket flint. (60) collected around Tamaki Estuary.

A very large 20th century wooden shark fish hook with Plaited…

Large Vintage Wooden Shark Hook with Plaited Cord

A very large 20th century wooden shark fish hook with Plaited cord. Length 39 cm. Width 27 cm

An old Maori stone anchor, spherical form, the top raised…

Maori Stone Anchor - Spherical Form with Hour-Glass Hole

An old Maori stone anchor, spherical form, the top raised lozenge form ridge with hour-glass drilled hole, the pale stone with overall semi-polished finish. Height 18 cm Approx. diameter 16 cm

A 19th century bronze shark hook

Bronze 19th Century Shark Hook

A 19th century bronze shark hook

Pa kahawai - fishing lure, early trolling lure with wooden body;…

Paua Inlaid Wooden Trolling Lure

Pa kahawai - fishing lure, early trolling lure with wooden body; paua-shell flashing, inlay to in-curve; barb missing with muka binding and line. Length 11 cm. Width 1.8 cm

Rare pa kahawai - fishing lure, fine, early trolling lure with…

Rare Whale Bone Trolling Lure with Paua Inlay

Rare pa kahawai - fishing lure, fine, early trolling lure with whale bone body and paua-shell flashing inlay to the in-curve. Bone barb with natural fibre binding. Attached line. Length 11 cm. Width 1.8 cm

Pa kahawai - fishing lure, fine, early trolling lure with…

Paua-Shell Trolling Lure with Whale Bone Barb

Pa kahawai - fishing lure, fine, early trolling lure with wooden body; paua-shell flashing, inlay to in-curve; whale bone barb with muka binding and line. Length 12 cm. Width 2 cm

Rare pa kahawai - fishing lure, fine, early trolling lure with…

Rare Whale Bone Trolling Lure with Paua Inlay

Rare pa kahawai - fishing lure, fine, early trolling lure with whale bone body; paua-shell flashing, inlay to in-curve; bone barb with muka binding and line. Length 12.5 cm. Width 1.8 cm

A Pa kahawai (trolling lure), with paua shell shank, bone hook…

Paua and Bone Trolling Lure

A Pa kahawai (trolling lure), with paua shell shank, bone hook and muka lashing. Length 10 cm. Registration number pending

A contact period Maori trolling fishhook (pa kahawai), with…

Maori Trolling Fishhook with Paua Laminate

A contact period Maori trolling fishhook (pa kahawai), with paua laminate to incurve. Bone point with pronounced barb. Lashed snood and line. Length 11 cm

A 19th century trolling fishhook (pa kahawai), with paua shell…

19th Century Paua Shell Trolling Fishhook

A 19th century trolling fishhook (pa kahawai), with paua shell laminate to incurve. Bone point. Lashed muka snood and line. Provenance: in one family since the 1880s. collection begun in 1883 in Dunedin through connections with local Maori. Length 10.3 cm

A contact period Maori trolling fishhook (pa kahawai). Fully…

Lashed Maori Fishhook with Paua Incurve

A contact period Maori trolling fishhook (pa kahawai). Fully lashed with paua laminate to incurve. Bone point. Plaited muka line. Length 8.7 cm

A contact period Maori trolling fish hook (pa kahawai). Fully…

Maori Trolling Fish Hook with Paua Laminate and Bone Point

A contact period Maori trolling fish hook (pa kahawai). Fully lashed with paua laminate to incurve. Bone point. Plaited muka line. Length 9 cm

A 19th century trolling fish hook (pa kahawai), with a paua…

Paua shell trolling fish hook from 19th century

A 19th century trolling fish hook (pa kahawai), with a paua shell body supported on an iron/wire frame which has been bent to form a slightly barbed hook point. Lashed snood, no line. Provenance: Obtained in Southland in the 1950s. Length 10 cm. Width 1.7…

A whalebone one-piece 'U' shaped fish hook (matau) length 3.5 cm

Whalebone Matau Fish Hook - 3.5cm

A whalebone one-piece 'U' shaped fish hook (matau) length 3.5 cm

An 18th/19th century bronze fish hook, the recurved piece made…

Bronze Fish Hook with Recurved Copper Alloy Piece

An 18th/19th century bronze fish hook, the recurved piece made of copper alloy, probably a bronze ship nail. Point has two external barbs and one internal. Partially lashed snood and line. Provenance: Purchased from a Christchurch antiques shop in the…

A rare contact period fish hook (matau). Beautifully carved…

Rare Matau Fish Hook from Webster Collection

A rare contact period fish hook (matau). Beautifully carved full body and prolonged shank limb with serrated bone point. Lashed snood and line. Provenance: Ex Webster collection. Width 12 cm

Stone lure Shank round, cylindrical form with carved notch to…

Carved Stone Fishing Lure with Notch and Hole

Stone lure Shank round, cylindrical form with carved notch to back end designed to facilitate the hook; pierced hole to front end for attaching a natural fibre cord. Length 8 cm. Width. 9 cm

Matau - fish hook small, fine fish-hook, fashioned from bone.…

Fine Bone Fish Hook - 3cm x 2cm

Matau - fish hook small, fine fish-hook, fashioned from bone. Length 3 cm. Width 2 cm

Matau - fish hook, a small, fine fish-hook fashioned from shell…

Shell Fish Hook with Fibre Binding

Matau - fish hook, a small, fine fish-hook fashioned from shell with attached fibre binding. Length 3 cm. Width 2.1 cm. Hook only

Matau - fish hook, a superb fish-hook of classic form fashioned…

Whalebone Fish Hook

Matau - fish hook, a superb fish-hook of classic form fashioned from whalebone. Smooth, warm, aged patina. Length 7 cm. Width 5 cm

Matau - copper shark hook, of incredible scale with triple barb.…

Matau: Massive Copper Shark Hook for Deep-Sea Fishing

Matau - copper shark hook, of incredible scale with triple barb. Tightly bound cord attached to a braided trace. Nails from early whaling boats were traded heavily with Maori., a seafarer's kinship also encouraged the exchange of rope knowledge which the…

Matau - iron shark hook, a good example with single barb;…

Iron Shark Hook with Tightly Bound Cord and Robust Trace

Matau - iron shark hook, a good example with single barb; tightly bound cord attached to a robust muka trace. Length 11 cm. Width 6 cm

Matau - iron shark hook, a large example with double barb;…

Iron Shark Hook with Double Barb and Muka Binding Remnants

Matau - iron shark hook, a large example with double barb; remnants of muka binding at top. Length 14.2 cm. Width 6.4 cm

Matau - iron shark hook metal -'U'-shaped fish-hook with barbed…

Iron Shark Hook with Barbed End

Matau - iron shark hook metal -'U'-shaped fish-hook with barbed end. Bound with muka fibre; trace attached. Length 17 cm. Width 9 cm

Pa kahawai - fishing lure, a rare, early example; shank made of…

Rare Paua Shell Fishing Lure with Wooden Design

Pa kahawai - fishing lure, a rare, early example; shank made of paua shell. As Maori fishing knowledge increased, wood was added to the design. Paua shell alone was too thin to form strong shanks that could cope with the strain, without point. Lashed…

Pa kahawai - fishing lure, a fine, trolling lure with wooden…

Paua-Shell Kahawai Trolling Lure

Pa kahawai - fishing lure, a fine, trolling lure with wooden body, paua-shell -'flashing' inlay to incurve, bone barb and muka binding. Length 9 cm. Width 2 cm

Large matau - fish hook, a composite fish-hook of gigantic…

Gigantic Matau Fish Hook

Large matau - fish hook, a composite fish-hook of gigantic proportions fashioned from a native hardwood sapling; robust length of cord (aho) attached to the top. Small barb fashioned from a mammal's tooth; has two serrated points to each side; attached to…

Matau - fish hook wooden, full-bodied shank in 'U' shape made…

Wooden Fish Hook with Bone Point

Matau - fish hook wooden, full-bodied shank in 'U' shape made by training a branch or root. Short, barbed bone point lashed to end. Lashed snood and trace. Inscribed in white ink: 'Webster Coll 385'. Length 12 cm. Width 6.6 cm

A 20th century Maori wood and bone fish hook, the large wood…

Maori Wood and Bone Fish Hook with Ancestral Figure

A 20th century Maori wood and bone fish hook, the large wood hook with an ancestral figure carved to base. Twine handle, the letter 'R' carved to the top, a large sharpened and carved bone tip. Length 32 cm

A Maori trolling lure with traditional tapered formed wooden…

Paua-highlighted Maori trolling lure with carved barb

A Maori trolling lure with traditional tapered formed wooden body highlighted to the internal surface with conforming paua panel, carved and lashed barb to the base, lashing to the top. Length 9.5 cm

A Maori trolling lure with traditional tapered formed wooden…

Paua-Panelled Maori Trolling Lure

A Maori trolling lure with traditional tapered formed wooden body highlighted to the internal surface with conforming paua panel, carved and lashed barb to the base, lashing to the top. Length 11 cm

A Maori trolling lure with traditional tapered formed wooden…

Paua-Panelled Maori Trolling Lure

A Maori trolling lure with traditional tapered formed wooden body highlighted to the internal surface with conforming paua panel, carved and lashed barb to the base, lashing to the top. Length 11.5 cm

A similar Maori trolling lure with traditional tapered formed…

Paua-Panel Maori Trolling Lure with Carved Barb

A similar Maori trolling lure with traditional tapered formed wooden body highlighted to the internal surface with conforming paua panel, carved and lashed barb to the base, lashing to the top. Length 10.5 cm

An old trolling lure (pa kahawai) with traditional tapered…

Paua-highlighted Trolling Lure

An old trolling lure (pa kahawai) with traditional tapered formed wooden body highlighted to the internal surface with conforming paua panel, carved and lashed barb to the base, lashing to the top. Length 10.5 cm Being assessed for registration

An old Solomon Islands trolling lure, shaped mother-of-pearl,…

Solomon Islands Mother-of-Pearl Trolling Lure

An old Solomon Islands trolling lure, shaped mother-of-pearl, the body with lashed tortoiseshell barb to base and carved pronged detail to the top for further lashing. Length 7 cm