Title: Robley: Te Ropere, 1840—1930

Author: Timothy Walker

Publication details: University of Auckland, 1985, Auckland

Digital publication kindly authorised by: Timothy Walker

Part of: The Moko Texts Collection

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Robley: Te Ropere, 1840—1930

Maori Art

page 349

Maori Art

Maori Designs (kowhaiwhai)

This set of kowhaiwhai patterns was probably executed during the 1920's. With the exception of the last work (Cat. No. 150), all examples include three bands of pattern, arranged horizontally. The last work includes five different patterns, similarly arranged.

NB: “Maori Designs I” does not exist.

142a. Maori Designs II

  • w/c on white paper

  • 275 × 205 mm.

  • sign.: (w/c) lower right “H.G. Robley

  • HBAGM Collection MMC 839

  • Presented by Lady McLean, Napier, 1930's

Inscriptions

Recto: (w/c, R's hand) lower left

“Maori Designs/ II.”

142b. [Maori Designs]

  • w/c on white paper

  • 282 × 205 mm.

  • HBAGM Collection MMC 841

  • Presented by Lady McLean, Napier, 1930's

NB: there are no inscriptions.

page 350

143. Maori Designs III

  • w/c on white paper

  • 259 × 204 mm.

  • sign.: (w/c) lower right “H.G. Robley

  • HBAGM Collection MMC 839

  • Presented by Lady McLean, Napier, 1930's

Inscriptions

Recto: (ink, R's hand) lower left

“Maori Designs/ III.”

144. Maori Designs IV

  • w/c on white paper

  • 275 × 207 mm.

  • sign.: (w/c) lower right “H.G. Robley

  • HBAGM Collection MMC 840

  • Presented by Lady McLean, Napier, 1930's

Inscriptions

Recto: (w/c, R's hand) lower left

“Maori designs IV.”

145. Maori Designs V

  • w/c on white paper

  • 285 × 205 mm.

  • sign.: (w/c) lower right “H.G. Robley

  • HBAGM Collection MMC 835

  • Presented by Lady McLean, Napier, 1930's

Inscriptions

Recto: (w/c, R's hand) lower left

“Maori Designs/ V”
page 351

146. Maori Designs VI

  • ink on white paper

  • 275 × 201 mm.

  • sign.: lower right “H.G. Robley

  • HBAGM Collection MMC 837

  • Presented by Lady McLean, Napier, 1930's

Inscriptions

Recto: (ink, R's hand) lower left

“Maori designs VI”

147. Maori Designs VII

  • w/c on white paper

  • 267 × 204 mm.

  • sign.: (ink) lower left “H.G. Robley

  • HBAGM Collection MMC 838

  • Presented by Lady McLean, Napier, 1930's

Inscriptions

Recto: (ink, R's hand) lower left

“Maori Designs/ VII.”

148. [Maori Designs]

  • w/c on white paper

  • 280 × 201 mm.

  • HBAGM Collection MMC 834

  • Presented by Lady McLean, Napier, 1930's

Inscriptions

Recto: (pencil, R's hand) lower page

“to be used on the gable/ see place/ as the most Maori pattern existing/ rub this out/ & place with the other designs.”
page 352

149. [Maori Designs]

  • w/c on white paper

  • 274 × 200 mm.

  • sign.: (ink) lower right “H.G. Robley

  • HBAGM Collection MMC 842

  • Presented by Lady McLean, Napier, 1930's

NB: there are no inscriptions.

150. [Maori Designs]

  • w/c on white paper

  • 260 × 202 mm.

  • HBAGM Collection MMC 833

  • Presented by Lady McLean, Napier, 1930's

150. [Maori Designs] Hawkes Bay Art Gallery & Museum

150. [Maori Designs]
Hawkes Bay Art Gallery & Museum

page break
159. [Kowhaiwhai Pattern] Canterbury Museum

159. [Kowhaiwhai Pattern]
Canterbury Museum

page 353

151. [Kowhaiwhai Pattern]

  • w/c & ink on white paper

  • 194 × 140 mm.

  • sign.: (ink) lower right corner “H.G. Robley

  • date: (ink) lower right corner “1926”

  • Canterbury Museum Collection (no class.)

  • Presented by the ‘Christchurch Press’, 1937

152. [Kowhaiwhai Pattern]

  • w/c & ink on white paper

  • 124 × 140 mm.

  • Canterbury Museum Collection (no class.)

  • Presented by the ‘Christchurch Press’, 1937

153. [Kowhaiwhai Pattern]

  • w/c & ink on white paper

  • 35 × 124 mm.

  • Canterbury Museum Collection (no. class.)

  • Presented by the ‘Christchurch Press’, 1937

154. [Kowhaiwhai Pattern]

  • ink on dressed cotton

  • 252 × 130 mm.

  • Canterbury Museum Collection (no class.)

  • Presented by the ‘Christchurch Press’, 1937

155a. [Kowhaiwhai Pattern]

  • ink on dressed cotton

  • 175 × 45 mm.

  • Canterbury Museum Collection (no class.)

  • Presented by the ‘Christchurch Press’, 1937

page break
160. [Kowhaiwhai Patterns] Canterbury Museum

160. [Kowhaiwhai Patterns]
Canterbury Museum

page 354

155b. [Kowhaiwhai Pattern]

  • ink on white cart.

  • 47 × 50 mm.

  • Canterbury Museum Collection (no class.)

  • Presented by the ‘Christchurch Press’, 1937

156. [Kowhaiwhai Pattern]

  • ink & pencil on white cart.

  • 192 × 143 mm.

  • Canterbury Museum Collection (no class.)

  • Presented by the ‘Christchurch Press’, 1937

157. [Kowhaiwhai Pattern]

  • w/c on white paper

  • 186 × 100 mm.

  • Canterbury Museum Collection (no class.)

  • Presented by the ‘Christchurch Press’, 1937

158. [Kowhaiwhai Pattern]

  • w/c on white paper

  • 207 × 100 mm.

  • Canterbury Museum Collection (no class.)

  • Presented by the ‘Christchurch Press’, 1937

159. [Kowhaiwhai Pattern]

  • ink/wash on white paper

  • 158 × 326 mm.

  • sign.: (ink) centre right “H.G. Robley

  • date: (ink) centre right “16.12.29”

  • Canterbury Museum Collection (no class.)

  • Presented by the ‘Christchurch Press’, 1937

Inscriptions

Recto: (ink, R's hand) lower page

“curious design/ -/ pattern/ centre/ -/ compare/ Etruscan/ form/ [sketch].”
page break
162. [Kowhaiwhai Pattern] Canterbury Museum

162. [Kowhaiwhai Pattern]
Canterbury Museum

page 355

160. [Kowhaiwhai Pattern]

  • ink/wash on white cart.

  • image: 236 × 58 mm.

  • support: 236 × 68 mm.

  • Canterbury Museum Collection (no class.)

  • Presented by the ‘Christchurch Press’, 1937

Mt. Recto: (ink & pencil, ? hand) right side

“67/ General/ Robley's/ Drawing/ extend/ this to/make/ design/ make curves/ touch at/ tangents.”

161. [Kowhaiwhai Pattern]

  • ink/wash on white paper

  • image: 90 × 230 mm.

  • support: 94 × 230 mm.

  • Canterbury Museum Collection (no class.)

  • Presented by the ‘Christchurch Press’, 1937

Inscriptions

W/Mt. Recto: (pencil, ? hand) top

“Robley's drawings — doubled Pattern/ Requires to be extended to make composite/ design.”

162. [Kowhaiwhai Pattern]

  • w/c & ink on white paper

  • image: 214 × 134 mm.

  • support: 272 × 134 mm.

  • Canterbury Museum Collection (no class.)

  • Presented by the ‘Christchurch Press’, 1937

Inscriptions

Recto: (ink, ? hand) top

“page 10 of MS” [plus various annotations]

(pencil, ? hand) top

“Robley's/ drawing/ -/ Robley.”
page break
161. [Kowhaiwhai Patterns] Canterbury Museum

161. [Kowhaiwhai Patterns]
Canterbury Museum

page 356

163. Tiki (in Maori pattern border)

  • w/c on white cart.

  • 310 × 208 mm.

  • Canterbury Museum Collection E-121-9

  • Presented by Sir Robert Heaton-Rhodes, M.P., 1921

Inscriptions

Recto: (ink, R's hand) lower page

“20/ see over”

Verso: (ink, R's hand) lower page

Tiki (in Maori pattern border)/ the ‘G’ like design was cut in tattooing/ near the left ear [sketch] see plan below/ and pattern traced off/ actual size/ by the artist/ H.G. Robley/ 20.”

164. [Tiki; within (partial) oval kowhaiwhai frame]

  • w/c & ink on white paper

  • 330 × 202 mm.

VUW Collection Fildes NZ Portfolio/2

Provenance: Fildes Collection

Inscriptions

Recto: (ink, R's hand) lower left

“Rafter/ Pattern -/ for a plate with Tiki centre.”
163. Tiki (in Maori pattern border) Canterbury Museum

163. Tiki (in Maori pattern border)
Canterbury Museum

page 357

165. [Tiki; within oval kowhaiwhai border]

  • w/c & ink on white paper

  • 288 × 222 mm.

  • ATL Picture Collection A 80/4

Inscriptions

Verso: (ink, R's hand) centre

H.G. Robley

166. [Tiki; within oval kowhaiwhai border]

  • w/c on white cart.

  • 278 × 198 mm.

  • Canterbury Museum Collection E-121-9

  • Presented by Sir Robert Heaton-Rhodes M.P., 1923

Inscriptions

Recto: (ink, R's hand) lower left

“see over 21”

Verso: (ink, R's hand) lower page

“a tiki/ the border frame/ carries a pattern from a rafter -/ H.G. Robley/ 21 20A.”
166. [Tiki; with oval kowhaiwhai border] Canterbury Museum

166. [Tiki; with oval kowhaiwhai border]
Canterbury Museum

page break
170. [Oval kowhaiwahi border] Canterbury Museum

170. [Oval kowhaiwahi border]
Canterbury Museum

page 358

167. [Kowhaiwhai border]

  • ink on tracing paper

  • image: 382 × 310 mm.

  • support: 288 × 218 mm.

  • ATL Picture Collection A 80/28

NB: this is a rectangular border.

168. [Composition using Maori designs]

  • ink on tracing paper

  • 250 × 203 mm.

  • AIM Manuscript Collection MS 256; R66

NB: This composition has a double spiral at its centre, surrounded by a rectangular kowhaiwhai border.

169. [Composition using Maori design]

  • w/c on white paper

  • 95 × 170 mm.

  • VUW Collection Fildes/10

  • Prevenance: Fildes Collection

NB: This compostion is made from a 'G'-like design of the left side paepae design, Mokamokai 21. (see page 148)

170. [Oval Kowhaiwhai border]

  • ink on white paper

  • 322 × 202 mm.

  • sign.: (ink) top right corner "H.G.Robley"

  • date: (ink) upper right "17 Octbr./ 1929"

  • Canterbury Museum Collection (no class.)

  • Presented by the 'Christchurch Press', 1937

Inscriptions

RECTO: (ink, R's hand) whole page

[general annotations]
"variety/ (oval)/ the/ pattern put on/ look irregular/ yet following -/ one design/ - different curves/ - 2. 1. 3. "

Mt. RECTO: (pencil, ? hand) centre

"Major-General/ H.G. Robley/ drew this/ as possible/ ceiling de-/ coration/ suitable for/ modern/ rooms."
page 359

171. [Sketch, Maori Design Elements]

  • ink on white paper

  • 75 × 141 mm.

  • ATL Picture Collection A 80/27a

  • Accn. No.: 78–554

  • Provenance: Donne/Fuller; purchased from Webster Estate, 1970

Note: The lower section of this sketch could be a decorated ‘L’. The upper section appears to represent a structural breakdown of koru into various units.

172. Maori rafter pattern

  • w/c & ink on white paper

  • 333 × 205 mm.

  • VUW Collection Fildes NZ Portfolio/3

  • Provenance: Fildes Collection

Inscriptions

Recto: (ink, R's hand) lower page

“Maori Rafter Patterns”

Verso: (pencil, Fildes' hand)

“Copied by Dominion Museum/ Wellington Novr 1923/ H. Fildes.”

173. Maori rafter pattern

  • w/c & ink on white paper

  • 333 × 216 mm.

  • VUW Collection Fildes NZ Portfolio/3

  • Provenance: Fildes Collection

Inscriptions

Recto: (ink, R's hand) lower page

“Maori Rafter Pattern”

Verso: (pencil, Fildes' hand)

“Copied Dominion Museum/ Wellington Novr 1923/ H. Fildes.”
page break
174b. Design on a Maori door Victoria University of Wellington Library

174b. Design on a Maori door
Victoria University of Wellington Library

page 360

174a. Painting on a Maori door

  • w/c on white paper

  • 230 × 146 mm.

  • VUW Collection Fildes/10

  • Provenance: Fildes Collection

Inscriptions

Recto: (ink, R's hand) bottom

“Painting on a Maori door”

174b. Design on a Maori door

  • w/c & ink on white paper

  • 333 × 205 mm.

  • sign.: (ink) lower right “H.G. Robley

  • VUW Collection Fildes NZ Portfolio/3

  • Provenance: Fildes Collection

Inscriptions

Recto: (ink, R's hand) lower page

“Design on a Maori door.”

174c. Design on a Maori door

  • w/c & ink on white paper

  • 333 × 205 mm.

  • VUW Collection Fildes NZ Portfolio/3

  • Provenance: Fildes Collection

Inscriptions

Recto: (ink, R's hand) lower page

“Design on a Maori door”

Verso: (pencil, Fildes' hand)

“Copied Dominion Museum/ Wellington Novr 1923/ H. Fildes.
page 361

174. Notes: “The house to which [this door] originally stood at Wairoa (Lake Tarawera) — In it a number of Maori people took refuge when the eruption of Mt. Tarawera took place on the 10 June 1886; the house was covered to a depth of about two feet… This house is at Clandon Park (near Woking) and is in the possession of the Earl of Onslow — He was Governor of New Zealand 1889–1892… On the death of Lord Onslow the house came into the possession of his son Huia.” [T.E. Donne: n/d. ATL Donne qMs/ca. 1903–1941.]

Robley was a close friend of Lord Onslow and his family.

This house, Hine mihi, remains at Clandon Park, Surrey. The estate is now open to the public and is administered by the National Trust.

177c. [Maori rafter design] Canterbury Museum

177c. [Maori rafter design]
Canterbury Museum

page 362

175a. A design on a painted rafter

  • w/c & ink on white paper

  • 333 × 205 mm.

  • sign.: (ink) lower right “H.G. Robley

  • VUW Collection Fildes NZ Portfolio/3

  • Provenance: Fildes Collection

Inscriptions

Recto: (ink, R's hand) lower page

“Copied from a design/ on a painted paddle/ rafter/ very elaborate & pretty”

Verso: (pencil, Fildes' hand)

“Copied by Dominion Museum/ Wellington Nov 1923/ H. Fildes.”

175b. Maori rafter design

  • w/c & ink on white paper

  • 333 × 203 mm.

  • VUW Collection Fildes NZ Portfolio/3

  • Provenance: Fildes Collection

Inscriptions

Recto: (ink, R's hand) lower page

“Maori Rafter design -/ / it is richer than usual with [sketch of koru]”

Verso: (pencil, Fildes' hand) bottom right

“Copied J. MacDonald/ Museum/ 2/11/1923”

177c. [Maori rafter design]

  • ink/wash on white paper

  • 325 × 204 mm.

  • sign.: (ink) lower right “H.G. Robley

  • date: (ink) lower right “Aug 20/ 1929”

  • Canterbury Museum Collection (no class.)

  • Presented by the ‘Christchurch Press’, 1937

Inscriptions

Recto: (ink, R's hand) whole page

[general annotations & colour notes.]
page 363

177. [Design from Maori Land Boundary Post]

  • ink/wash on white paper

  • 325 × 218 mm.

  • Canterbury Museum Collection (no class.)

  • Presented by the ‘Christchurch Press’, 1937

Inscriptions

Recto: (ink, R's hand) whole page

“From Maori Land Boundary/ Post (General Robley/ all black and white/ -/ narrow upright/ post/ 2. do all Black/ pattern on/ square post/ 2/ -/ do black and red/ -/ pattern/ square design/ can add to/ -/ or here with red.”

Verso: (ink, R's hand) whole page [↑]

“Big Square elongated/ designs/ on upper part of the post. These designs are white outline for/ black curved figures on the post to get/ usual, red, white dividing, black/ then figures marked (R) shd be red/ In Big Square pattern/ it wd be simple regular Maori [sketch], have plain [sketch] black space (B).”

Mt. Recto: (pencil, ? hand) related to lower section of design

“We omitted this/ pattern.”

Labels, etc.

Recto: (photographic reproduction) affixed right margin, centre

[photo; of painted canoe hull, 1911 Christchurch Exhibition, from “Dominion Museum Bulletin” 1911. see Notes.]

Notes: This drawing was forwarded by Robley as his contribution to the 1911 Christchurch Exhibition. The design was transferred to the hull of a canoe, which was place upright in the Exhibition's Model Pa to represent a chief's memorial.

The Gateway of the Model Pa, carved by Neke Kapua and his sons, was based on Robley's watercolours of the gateways of the Maketu Pa. The Christchurch Gateway is now in the National Museum at Wellington. [Dominion Museum Bulletin: 3 1911.]

page break
178. Koruru Hawkes Bay Art Gallery & Museum

178. Koruru
Hawkes Bay Art Gallery & Museum

page 364

178. Koruru

  • w/c on white cart.

  • 223 × 153 mm.

  • sign.: (w/c) lower right “H.G. Robley

  • HBAGM Collection MMC 802

  • Presented by Lady McLean, Napier, 1930's

Inscriptions

Mt. Verso: (ink, R's hand) paper label, affixed centre of page

“Carving “Koruru” — painted red ochre/ kokowai/ A chief about to salute his spouse/ (after an absence on a war expedition)/ both have High rank Tattoo/ This nose rubbing has term “Hongi”/ Hongi the nose salute./ H.G. Robley.’

Notes: “The tatu shown is on an old carved slab belonging to the Earl of Onslow, at Clandon [Surrey]… a mark of rank called hotiki was sometimes incised between [a woman's] eyebrows… In the ancient days a woman often had a belt 2–2½ inches broad Tu or Tu Tatua or Tika Tika tattooed round her waist “Hae hae”…” [Robley Hocken Library MI 488 p. 38a]

page break
179. [Tekoteko figure] National Museum of New Zealand; Ethnology Dept.

179. [Tekoteko figure]
National Museum of New Zealand; Ethnology Dept.

page 365

179. [Tekoteko figure]

  • ink/wash on white paper

  • 202 × 220 mm.

  • sign.: (ink) lower right “G.R.”

  • Hocken Library Collection MS 488

  • Provenance: T.M. Hocken Collection

Inscriptions

Recto: (ink, R's hand) lower page

“an old Teko Teko/ wooden gable ornament/ showing a very early/ pattern of tatu (extinct art)/ Sydney Parkinson artist/ with Captain Cook drew/ some of this then fashion./ -/ This tatu is quite/ different from the/ Mataora designs/ of spirals + +/ now in NZ/ The artist carver has left a design of historic/ interest to NZd./ G. Robley/ -/ the chin may be/ shaped to show slight/ beard or so. Upper lip seems scored/ 3 horizontal lines.”

Verso: (ink, R's hand) top of page

H.G. Robley/ 7 St Albans Place, Regent St, SW London address.”

NB: Robley did a number copies of this drawing. As well a second copy in the Hocken Library Collection, MS 488; the following collections include examples of this work:

  • AIM MS 256

  • HBAGM MMC 844

  • Hocken Library MI 488 (page 86A)

  • NMNZ Ethnology Dept