Ritual staff "whakapakoko atua" ·  New Zealand, Maori · ID: 3033448

Description

wood, middle brown patina, delicate carving, the front shows a standing figure, eyes with haliotis shell inlay, figure and face formed by ornaments, wrapping with cord material at the bottom, slightly dam., (minor missing parts on the upper rim), on base;
a “whakapakoko atua” (godstick) is also known as a “taumata atua”, a resting place of the god. Sticks like this were places to which the god was asked to come so that the priest could talk to him. The carving of the head combined with decorative lashing identifies the stick as the resting place of a particular god.

Comparing literature

Mead, Sidney Moko (ed.), Te Maori, New York 1984, ill. 137