Cloak
- Description
- Birds are seen as messengers from the spiritual realm and capes were considered prestigious. The life force (mauri) of the bird was contained within the cape. It takes several months for a specialist weaver to attach the hundreds of feathers to the flax backing. Many different birds were used and this example includes kiwi and possibly albatross.
- Accession Loan No.
- 136/1993/52
- Collection Class
- Clothing and accessories
- Common Name
- cloak
- Simple Name
- cloak
- Full Name
- cloak (kahu kiwi)
- Dimensions
- part W 740 mm; part W 830 mm; whole height 685 mm
- Cultural Group
- Maori
- Production Year High
- 1993
- Production Country
- New Zealand
- Production Area Region
- Polynesia
- Production Continent
- Oceania
- Family Group
- Material
- candlewhick whenu; feathers; wool; cotton
- Function Name
- clothing
- Function Detail
- Cloak of candlewick whenu (warps); cotton; feathers; wool. This example includes brown kiwi feathers and possibly white albatross forming contrasting vertical lines across cloak. H.685 x W.830mm.
- Collection Country
- New Zealand
- Collection Area Region
- Australia and New Zealand
- Collection Continent
- Oceania
