The art and history of maori tattooing by robley, h. In the traditional maori world, the moko, or facial or body tattoo, was a sign of great mana and status. Moko is the art of tattooing practised by the maori people of new zealand. The difference between kirituhi and moko taryn beri. The legend states that there was a young warrior called mataora, who fell in love with the princess of the underworld, called niwareka. The modern tool of ta moko is the tattoo machine, although some ta moko artists alternate between traditional and modern methods. The following is an excerpt from the tattoo history source book.
Ta moko tattooer and cultural performer at the amsterdam tattoo convention, the netherlands, 2017. Tattoos news pics videos and info check which tattoo suits you best. Maori, member of a polynesian people of new zealand. Mau moko is probably the most magnificent book ever produced about the. Ta moko the art of maori tattoos kawhia maori history. Illustration from the book, moko or maori tattooing with illustrations, by horatio gordon robley 1840 1930 ce.
Moko, the art and history of maori tattooing robley, h. It is a matter of simple integrity and respect to maori culture that you do your due diligence and learn the difference between kirituhi and moko. The art of maori tattoo has always been regarded with fascination. Two reactions seem to be possible in persons who see a tattoo on someone, wrote samuel m. Ta moko is primarily for those of maori blood and descent, while. Tattoo history maori new zealand tattoos history of.
Moko maori tattoos is the breakthrough book that finally introduces. A journal of a voyage to the south seas, in his majestys ship the endeavour link is external. Male warriors wore elaborate tattoos on their faces and bodies. Joann fletcher, research fellow in the department of archaeology at the university of york in britain, describes the history of tattoos and their cultural significance to people around the world. Although they do not cover as much of the body as many south pacific people, the maori developed their own unique style of tattooing. James cook ethno tattoo homemade tattoo ink art maori tattoo studio ta moko tattoo zealand tattoo history tattoos facial tattoos what others are saying a portrait of a maori chief by sydney parkinson, the artist on captain cooks century voyages. Last year, nanaia mahuta became the first member of the new zealand parliament to wear a moko kauae female moko on the chin and lip area. In our bid to reclaim our taonga, all taonga, and in our bid to be selfdetermining in our. Note this book is currently available through other publishers websites and not the tattoo encyclopedia. Before the importation of the polynesian word, the practice of tattooing had been described in the west. Moko was unique in that the face was decorated with intricate spirals that were not only tattooed but also incised into the skin to make scars in the form of parallel ridges and grooves. Moko ink is the worlds first maori tattoo studio specialising in the contemporary use and creation of traditional maori and polynesian tatu. Ta moko significance of maori tattoos ta moko traditional maori tattooing, often on the face is a taonga treasure to maori for which the purpose and applications are sacred.
The inclusion of the individuals tribal affiliations is very important and is a credit to the authors and planners of this book, but then the book diverges, in my opinion, and shows many facial tattoos and not moko. The author examines the history, technique and meaning of ta moko maori tattoo from prehistory to modern times. Steward, a prominent tattoo artist during the mid20th century, in his book bad boys and tough tattoos. The art of maori tattoo has always been regarded with fascination, and this was one of the first comprehensive books on the subject. Moko has in recent years been divided into two main branches. Tattoo project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks read.
The world of maori tattoo continues to be a popular read. A nearnew book showing just a touch of age wear, otherwise new. Ta moko is the permanent marking of the face and body as traditionally practised by maori, the indigenous people of new zealand. Moko maori tattoos brings the maori into the spotlight for the very first time, and gives them a voice. Expecting only ridicule and persecution, i decided to conceal from everyone my work. Robley paperback at the best online prices at ebay. The moko is a spiral drawing which accurately follows the features of the one who bears it in perfect symmetry. His 1896 book, moko, or maori tattooing is the standard reference for moko or new zealand maori tattooing. A less historical explanation of the origin of maori tattoo can be found in the local legend which suggests that ta moko, the maori tattoo, came from the underworld, called uetonga. Maori tattoos are both beautiful and meaningful, which is why many people are very interested in understanding what these tattoos are. Collected together in one place, for the first time, are texts by explorers, journalists, physicians, psychiatrists, anthropologists, scholars, novelists, criminologists, and tattoo. Collected together in one place, for the first time, are texts by explorers, journalists, physicians, psychiatrists, anthropologists, scholars, novelists, criminologists, and tattoo artists. The moko not only consist of the laying of a design in the skin but also. On the background and history of ta moko, covering chisel tattooing, needle tattooing, patterns and conventions and more.
Ta moko is an outstanding work of maori scholarship. To most maori, being maori means recognizing and venerating their maori ancestors, having claims to family land, and having a right to be received as taangata whenua people of the land in the village of their ancestors. Certain patterns of moko can spread over the entire face including the eyelids. Ta moko, the bodily artform of the indigenous maori of new zealand.
This is the first book ever published featuring maori portraits and moko, the traditional facial tattoo of the maori of aotearoa, new zealand. The history and legacy of new zealands indigenous people charles river editors. The tattoo history source book is an exhaustingly thorough, lavishly illustrated collection of historical records of tattooing throughout the world, from ancient times to the present. The truth about the samoan tattoo the truth about the samoan tattoo part 2. Mesmerizing, beautiful, and sometimes shocking, the facial tattoos of the maori are revealed in this collection of photographs. We have chin tattoo ideas, designs, symbolism and we explain the meaning behind the tattoo. The author, formerly ethnologist with the auckland museum, provides an examination of maori moko in all its aspects its historical. Collected together in one place, for the first time, are texts by explorers, journalists, physicians.
Im still working on the the final of my 3part series about the samoan tattoo tatau everything i learned from personal research and from my teacher of samoan culture, the late afioga tofaeono tanuvasa tavale. Today, 30 out of the 35 heads in his collection can be found in the natural history museum of new york. The body became the wood for the artist and a symbol of the history of the clan and culture. The author, formerly ethnologist with the auckland museum, provides an examination of maori moko in all its aspects its historical develpment, tribal variations, design principles and ta moko is an outstanding. Working mostly on the face moko and buttocks, the maori took their wood carving technique and applied it to tattooing. As people become more educated as to the meaning and history of ta moko, they become more accepting of it. Discover the history and practice of ta moko, and find out why the lines of a moko carved in skin represent much more than a tattoo. In his book missionary travels and research in south africa. Today we are talking about one of the most ancient, fascinating and meaningful tattoos of human history. The world of maori tattoo in the traditional maori world, the moko, or facial or body tattoo, was a sign of great mana and status. T he native people of new zealand, called the maori, are world famous for their tattooing.
A long history of european tattoo predated these voyages, including among sailors and tradesmen, pilgrims visiting the holy land. The history and legacy of new zealands indigenous people. Ta moko is the art of facial decoration and was performed by a tohangu ta moko tattoo specialists who were usually men. The resulting decoration could be regarded as a tattoo.
Words and names are important and it is important to get the terminology correct, as a nonmaori tattooer using maori imagery. Traditional maori tattoo of new zealand ancient history. An artform that traditionally marked status, social standing and now embodies a culture, history and family. The oxford english dictionary gives the etymology of tattoo as in 18th c. First edition first printing of this ed, soft cover. A social history of the tattoo with gangs, sailors and streetcorner punks, 19501965. Some people assume that there is just one maori tattoo meaning attached to all of these designs, but the truth is that these tattoos can have an assortment of meanings, just like with any other type of tattooing style.
The moko ink studio is now situated in woodhill, rural west auckland. Noone should consider getting a maori facial tattoo without truly understanding the origin and history of the design. The word tattoo, or tattow in the 18th century, is a loanword from the samoan word tatau, meaning correct, workmanlike. Major general horatio robley wrote in 1896 that the moko was done for. While the needle is faster and more precise, hand tools bring the ritual more in line with how it was done traditionally. The tattoo history source book the tattoo history source book is an exhaustively thorough, lavishly illustrated collection of historical records of tattooing throughout the world, from ancient times to the present. The begining of the book starts off very well with some impressive moko kanohi and moko kauwai. Why then, did the recognised authorities on ethnology speak of the moko as something extinct. Moko is not just tattoo and not all tattoo are elevated to that of moko. Tattoo history images of maori new zealand tattoos history of tattoos and tattooing worldwide. Maybe moko will get what hes wishing for after all.
This content can be shared and edited for the purpose of promoting new zealand as a visitor destination. Mokomaori tattoo host madeleine brand talks to dutch photographer, hans nelemen about his new book mokomaori tattoo. It indicated the whakapapa or line of ancestors a person descended from and the land to which they were connected. The marks in general are spirals drawn with great nicety and even elegance. This book reflects the renaissance of the maori culture through the meaning of ta moko. Tattoo historian anna felicity friedman suggests a couple reasons for the cook myth. The truth about the samoan tattoo tatau one samoana. If someone is looking for a book that documents contmporary moko and not contemporary tattooing by maori. After almost dying out in the twentieth century, maori tattooing is now experiencing a powerful revival, with many young maori wearing the moko as a spectacular gesture of racial pride. This book is many things a collection of beautiful and touching images, a contribution to a great cause, and a piece of history.