Huruhuru Kuri
Production date
1800-1810
Description
A large cloak made from skins of eight original Māori dogs (Canis domesticus). Four brown and four white. The pelts sewn together with strips of dog hide using what has been described as a french seam. The dogs ears and tails can be seen.
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Object detail
Artist/Maker
Production role
Maker
Production date
1800-1810
Production period
Subject person
Classification
Collection
Credit line
W.H.
Skinner
purchased
this
cloak
from
Whakatau
(chief
of
the
Taranaki
tribe
of
Te
Namu
who
at
the
time
was
believed
to
be
aged
about
75-80
years
old)
at
Parihaka
in
June
1885
for
4
pounds.
Taken from W.H. Skinner's diary: Monday 17 June 1889 (ARC2001-165/3)
"Walked up to Parihaka directly after breakfast to finish my dealings left again about 1/2 past 1. The prices I gave seem very high but I am confident that they're really worth double the money. I brought two spears splendid decorated with dogs hair and feathers 4 [pounds]. Te Whiti says this is the oldest mat in Parihaka and the only one of its kind, he says it is quite 80 yrs olds, that is to his knowledge. , 1 whale bone meri [mere] - fiddle shaped - old with dog skin larkings attached 2.10.0 1 small greenstone tiki not a very good one 1 [pound] 2 large wooden hooks, bone pointed, and 3 paua small hooks 7/- 1 korowai mat good of its kind 7/6, spent in all about 18 pound, this included tips etc etc. Hickman kindly refused to take anything for my meals."
Taken from a letter written by W.H. Skinner to T. White and transcribed in White's 1891 article in the Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute, p. 544-545:
"The mat was purchased by myself at Parihaka in June, 1889. The fact of my having purchased the mat caused quite a small sensation at Parihaka, and a friend of mine, being in the village the following day [possibly Thomas Hickman- see reference above] overheard Te Whiti and several of the older men discussing the affair and the history of the mat."
Taken from W.H. Skinner's diary: Monday 17 June 1889 (ARC2001-165/3)
"Walked up to Parihaka directly after breakfast to finish my dealings left again about 1/2 past 1. The prices I gave seem very high but I am confident that they're really worth double the money. I brought two spears splendid decorated with dogs hair and feathers 4 [pounds]. Te Whiti says this is the oldest mat in Parihaka and the only one of its kind, he says it is quite 80 yrs olds, that is to his knowledge. , 1 whale bone meri [mere] - fiddle shaped - old with dog skin larkings attached 2.10.0 1 small greenstone tiki not a very good one 1 [pound] 2 large wooden hooks, bone pointed, and 3 paua small hooks 7/- 1 korowai mat good of its kind 7/6, spent in all about 18 pound, this included tips etc etc. Hickman kindly refused to take anything for my meals."
Taken from a letter written by W.H. Skinner to T. White and transcribed in White's 1891 article in the Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute, p. 544-545:
"The mat was purchased by myself at Parihaka in June, 1889. The fact of my having purchased the mat caused quite a small sensation at Parihaka, and a friend of mine, being in the village the following day [possibly Thomas Hickman- see reference above] overheard Te Whiti and several of the older men discussing the affair and the history of the mat."
Accession number
A79.966
Collection type
Material
Public comments
This korowai was originally Rameka Te Amais he is my great x5 grandfather can you tell me where this is
- Maro preston/paratene posted 3 years ago.