Moko; or Maori Tattooing
Chapter XIII — Mokoed Heads in Museums and Collections
Chapter XIII
Mokoed Heads in Museums and Collections
The time is approaching when the history of moko will be written only from the comments of previous writers and from the dried specimens of moko-mokai in the collections. With regard to literary sources of information, I think I have exhausted everything of interest, certainly most that is of importance in the preceding pages. As to the specimens in the museums and collections, I have travelled much and seen all I could. From many I have taken drawings, portraits, or photographs. Looking at the specimen heads, a lady might almost wonder if the object had had a sweetheart or a loving wife; while a man might speculate in what mêlée or ambuscade he fell, or whether friend, foe, or master used the tomahawk about his neck. The best specimens of moko-mokai in Europe are included in the list in my appendix; and I will now give some account of them.
[Note added by NZETC as annotator:]
Description: Fig. 155.—Royal College of Surgeons, London.
This image is not available for public viewing as it depicts either mokamokai (preserved heads) or human remains. The reasons for non-display are detailed in the policy regarding display of images of mokamokai. If you would like to comment on this decision you can contact NZETC.
[Note added by NZETC as annotator:]
Description: Fig. 156.—Royal College of Surgeons, London.
This image is not available for public viewing as it depicts either mokamokai (preserved heads) or human remains. The reasons for non-display are detailed in the policy regarding display of images of mokamokai. If you would like to comment on this decision you can contact NZETC.
[Note added by NZETC as annotator:]
Description: Fig. 157.—Specimen in the Royal College of Surgeons, London. (Presented by the late Sir Erasmus Wilson.)
This image is not available for public viewing as it depicts either mokamokai (preserved heads) or human remains. The reasons for non-display are detailed in the policy regarding display of images of mokamokai. If you would like to comment on this decision you can contact NZETC.
[Note added by NZETC as annotator:]
Description: Fig. 158.—Royal College of Surgeons, London.
This image is not available for public viewing as it depicts either mokamokai (preserved heads) or human remains. The reasons for non-display are detailed in the policy regarding display of images of mokamokai. If you would like to comment on this decision you can contact NZETC.
[Note added by NZETC as annotator:]
Description: Fig. 159.—Head showing some post-mortem tattooing. (Royal College of Surgeons, London.)
This image is not available for public viewing as it depicts either mokamokai (preserved heads) or human remains. The reasons for non-display are detailed in the policy regarding display of images of mokamokai. If you would like to comment on this decision you can contact NZETC.
[Note added by NZETC as annotator:]
Description: Fig. 160.—Royal College of Surgeons, London.
This image is not available for public viewing as it depicts either mokamokai (preserved heads) or human remains. The reasons for non-display are detailed in the policy regarding display of images of mokamokai. If you would like to comment on this decision you can contact NZETC.
[Note added by NZETC as annotator:]
Description: Fig. 161.—Specimen in British Museum. The best in that collection.
This image is not available for public viewing as it depicts either mokamokai (preserved heads) or human remains. The reasons for non-display are detailed in the policy regarding display of images of mokamokai. If you would like to comment on this decision you can contact NZETC.
[Note added by NZETC as annotator:]
Description: Fig. 162.—Specimen in British Museum. The lips have been cut after death.
This image is not available for public viewing as it depicts either mokamokai (preserved heads) or human remains. The reasons for non-display are detailed in the policy regarding display of images of mokamokai. If you would like to comment on this decision you can contact NZETC.
[Note added by NZETC as annotator:]
Description: Fig. 163.—Specimen in British Museum.
This image is not available for public viewing as it depicts either mokamokai (preserved heads) or human remains. The reasons for non-display are detailed in the policy regarding display of images of mokamokai. If you would like to comment on this decision you can contact NZETC.
[Note added by NZETC as annotator:]
Description: Fig. 164.—Specimen in British Museum. The good and complete moko done during life has been nearly covered all over with post-mortem carving of quite a different design.
This image is not available for public viewing as it depicts either mokamokai (preserved heads) or human remains. The reasons for non-display are detailed in the policy regarding display of images of mokamokai. If you would like to comment on this decision you can contact NZETC.
[Note added by NZETC as annotator:]
Description: Fig. 165.—Specimen in Author's collection.
This image is not available for public viewing as it depicts either mokamokai (preserved heads) or human remains. The reasons for non-display are detailed in the policy regarding display of images of mokamokai. If you would like to comment on this decision you can contact NZETC.
[Note added by NZETC as annotator:]
Description: Fig. 166.—Specimen in St. George's Hospital, London. Some of the work very good. Latterly purchased by General Robley for £50 (Hospital Donation) & after publication of moko."
This image is not available for public viewing as it depicts either mokamokai (preserved heads) or human remains. The reasons for non-display are detailed in the policy regarding display of images of mokamokai. If you would like to comment on this decision you can contact NZETC.
[Note added by NZETC as annotator:]
Description: Fig. 167.—Specimen in Museum at Halifax, Yorks; showing hands of tattooing on cheek; a very good specimen of the finest moko.
This image is not available for public viewing as it depicts either mokamokai (preserved heads) or human remains. The reasons for non-display are detailed in the policy regarding display of images of mokamokai. If you would like to comment on this decision you can contact NZETC.
[Note added by NZETC as annotator:]
Description: Fig. 168.—Same specimen in Halifax Museum; showing unfinished nose. Varying patterns.
This image is not available for public viewing as it depicts either mokamokai (preserved heads) or human remains. The reasons for non-display are detailed in the policy regarding display of images of mokamokai. If you would like to comment on this decision you can contact NZETC.
I will give a list, with remarks, of some well-preserved specimens.
[Note added by NZETC as annotator:]
Description: Fig. 169.—Specimen in Berlin Museum of Ethnology.
This image is not available for public viewing as it depicts either mokamokai (preserved heads) or human remains. The reasons for non-display are detailed in the policy regarding display of images of mokamokai. If you would like to comment on this decision you can contact NZETC.
[Note added by NZETC as annotator:]
Description: Fig. 170.—Specimen in Berlin Museum of Ethnology.
This image is not available for public viewing as it depicts either mokamokai (preserved heads) or human remains. The reasons for non-display are detailed in the policy regarding display of images of mokamokai. If you would like to comment on this decision you can contact NZETC.
[Note added by NZETC as annotator:]
Description: Fig. 171.—Specimen in South Kensington Museum, London. Mostly post-mortem moko.
This image is not available for public viewing as it depicts either mokamokai (preserved heads) or human remains. The reasons for non-display are detailed in the policy regarding display of images of mokamokai. If you would like to comment on this decision you can contact NZETC.
[Note added by NZETC as annotator:]
Description: Fig 172.—Baron Von Hügel's collection in the Museum of Archæology and Ethnology, Cambridge.
This image is not available for public viewing as it depicts either mokamokai (preserved heads) or human remains. The reasons for non-display are detailed in the policy regarding display of images of mokamokai. If you would like to comment on this decision you can contact NZETC.
[Note added by NZETC as annotator:]
Description: Fig. 173.—Specimen in Ethnological Museum at Florence. Pattern scratched in as an outline, preparatory to tattooing.
This image is not available for public viewing as it depicts either mokamokai (preserved heads) or human remains. The reasons for non-display are detailed in the policy regarding display of images of mokamokai. If you would like to comment on this decision you can contact NZETC.
[Note added by NZETC as annotator:]
Description: Fig. 174.—Specimen in Auckland Museum, N.Z. Moetara, or Koukou.
This image is not available for public viewing as it depicts either mokamokai (preserved heads) or human remains. The reasons for non-display are detailed in the policy regarding display of images of mokamokai. If you would like to comment on this decision you can contact NZETC.
[Note added by NZETC as annotator:]
Description: Fig. 175.—Specimen in Canterbury Museum, Christ Church, N.Z., said to have been sent to England from Taranaki in 1837.
This image is not available for public viewing as it depicts either mokamokai (preserved heads) or human remains. The reasons for non-display are detailed in the policy regarding display of images of mokamokai. If you would like to comment on this decision you can contact NZETC.
[Note added by NZETC as annotator:]
Description: Fig. 176.—Specimen in the Ethnological Museum at Florence. Six lines only from nostrils to chin.
This image is not available for public viewing as it depicts either mokamokai (preserved heads) or human remains. The reasons for non-display are detailed in the policy regarding display of images of mokamokai. If you would like to comment on this decision you can contact NZETC.
[Note added by NZETC as annotator:]
Description: Fig. 177.—Head in Oxford University Museum, the other side has spiral on the cheek.
This image is not available for public viewing as it depicts either mokamokai (preserved heads) or human remains. The reasons for non-display are detailed in the policy regarding display of images of mokamokai. If you would like to comment on this decision you can contact NZETC.
[Note added by NZETC as annotator:]
Description: Fig. 178.—Specimen in Göttingen Museum; showing large amount of post-mortem work.
This image is not available for public viewing as it depicts either mokamokai (preserved heads) or human remains. The reasons for non-display are detailed in the policy regarding display of images of mokamokai. If you would like to comment on this decision you can contact NZETC.
[Note added by NZETC as annotator:]
Description: Fig. 179.— Specimen owned by Professor H. Giglioli, of Florence, glass eyes added by a European taxidermist. Moko very bold.
This image is not available for public viewing as it depicts either mokamokai (preserved heads) or human remains. The reasons for non-display are detailed in the policy regarding display of images of mokamokai. If you would like to comment on this decision you can contact NZETC.
[Note added by NZETC as annotator:]
Description: Fig. 180.—Head in Plymouth Museum. (From a photograph.)
This image is not available for public viewing as it depicts either mokamokai (preserved heads) or human remains. The reasons for non-display are detailed in the policy regarding display of images of mokamokai. If you would like to comment on this decision you can contact NZETC.
* Two old specimens, in advance state of decay, both appear to have been fully tattooed; they are well varnished. Are possibly of the time of Capt. Cook