Early and Important Papahou - Feather Box. A northern region pre-European and stone tool carved box of flat rectangular form. The underside strongly carved with two female manaia figures decorated with spiral designs who are fiercely guarding their taonga, the heads of the figures extend from each end of the box, and are pierced to enable suspension. The body and lid are carved with haehae, large pakati, and spiral designs, incorporated into this are intermittent circular eyes, a paddle form and a tiki head. Treasure boxes were made to carry the precious personal adornments of a high-ranking person, such as feathers worn in the hair, decorative combs, and highly prized pounamu (nephrite) ear and neck ornaments. Length 62 cm Width 17 cm Provenance: Miet collection. Purchased by Andrew Miet Purchased from Sotheby's UK. Lot 110 11th July 1972 and repatriated to New Zealand. Purchased from the Miet Collection auction, Dunbar Sloane, Wellington c.1985. For a similar important example collected in the Bay of Islands by Captain Cook see Taonga Maori in the British Museum Dorota C Starzecka, Roger Neich and Mick Pendergrast. Te Papa Press item 196 colour plate 10