This is a watercolour painting created by British soldier Horatio Gordon Robley (1840-1930) in 1864. It shows a Mäori chief in European dress with a moko (skin marking) on his face, holding what appears to be a mere (short flat club). To his left, on the ground, is a mokomokai (severed, dried, marked human head). The chief stands on the shore and seems to be motioning with the mere. Behind him, a few boats are depicted in the harbour and several Mäori look on. The painting measures 27.2 cm x 21.9 cm.
Copyright | Reproduced courtesy of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa |
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Creator | Horatio Gordon Robley, artist, 1864 |
Identifiers | Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa number 1992-0035-723
TLF resource R2466 |
Source | Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, http://www.tepapa.govt.nz |