An Illustrated Guide to Maori Art - Tapa blanda

The arts of the Maori are among the most alluring and sophisticated of the Pacific peoples. They developed their skills through centuries of endeavour and craft experimentation, expressing religious and artistic ideas in wood, stone, bone, shell and other materials. In particular, their carving and weaving are universally admired; Maori themselves proudly preserve their artistic traditions and honour the great historic art works. In this introduction to the subject, Terence Barrow (1923-2001) explains in simple terms the significance of the design motifs used by the Maori in their works of art, and discusses the material used, their construction and everyday uses. Highly illustrated, this book will answer the questions most commonly asked about Maori art and will give the reader a deeper understanding of the symbolic and spiritual significance of a variety of works and art forms.

Terence Barrow was a highly regarded academic and anthropologist, studying Maori and Polynesian art and culture over many years. For 20 years he worked as a curator for the New Zealand National Museum, before moving to a teaching position at the University of Hawaii in the 1960s. He died in 2001.