This carved wooden ipu ngārahu from around 1800 was used by a tohunga tā moko (tattooing expert) to hold pigment made from the āwheto (vegetable caterpillar). The pigment was applied to fresh chisel cuts so that it permanently coloured the recipient's skin.
Using this item
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Reference:
WE001761
Permission of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa must be obtained before any re-use of this image.
Add new comment