ID: 700001770 Page link: http://vocab.getty.edu/page/cona/700001770	Record Type: Movable Work
Images: 1

Ipu ngarahu (pigment container) (pots (containers); Unknown carver; 1800; Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa (Wellington, Welling...; WE001522)

Note: This ipu ngarahu (pigment container) held the specialist inks created as part of ta moko (customary Maoritattooing) practice. Also called oko ngarahu, carved ipu wai ngarahu (pigment pots) were part of the ahi ta moko (tattooing rite), which was exceedingly tapu (sacred). The awheto (vegetable caterpillar) was burned in a fire known as an ahi kauri (tattooing fire), then the awe (soot) was mixed with spring water, fish oil, or resin from hinau tree (Elaeocarpus dentatus), mahoe (whitey wood: Melicytus ramiflorus), poroporo (black nightshade: Solanum nigrum), and other plants, then kneaded and formed into small balls called kauri. The ngarahu (pigment) obtained from the caterpillar was used for tattooing the limbs or body, but the pigment was not black enough to be used for facial tattooing. Pukepoto (dark blue earth), a fine dark blue uku (clay), was mixed with resins to form a blue pigment and this was applied to the face of the moko (tattoo) recipient.

Titles:

Ipu ngarahu (pigment container) (preferred,C,U,RP,English-P,U,U)

Catalog Level: item

Work Types:

pots (containers) [300045697] (preferred)

..... (Objects Facet, Furnishings and Equipment (hierarchy name), Containers (hierarchy name), containers (receptacles), <containers by form>, vessels (containers))

Classifications:

utilitarian objects (preferred)

Creation Date: 1800

Creator Display:

Unknown carver [preferred,VP]

unknown Maori (Maori cultural designation) [500203761]

Locations:

Current: Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa (Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand) [500311561] Corporate Bodies (Corp. Body)

Repository Numbers: WE001522

Credit Line: Bequest of Kenneth Athol Webster, 1971

Display Materials: Carved wood

	wood (plant material) [300011914]
	.......(Materials Facet, Materials (hierarchy name), materials (substances), <materials by origin>, biological material, plant material, <wood and wood by product>)

	carving (processes) [300053149]
	.......(Activities Facet, Processes and Techniques (hierarchy name), <processes and techniques by specific type>, <subtractive processes and techniques>, <carving and carving techniques>)

	Podocarpus totara (species) [300379289]
	.......(Agents Facet, Living Organisms (hierarchy name), living organisms (entities), Eukaryota (domain), Plantae (kingdom), Coniferophyta (division), Pinopsida (class), Pinales (order), Podocarpaceae (family), Podocarpus (genus))

Dimensions: 67.94 (Height) x 86.52 (Width) mm

General Subject:

ceremonial objects (preferred)

Specific Subjects:

	vessels (containers) [300193015]
	.....(Objects Facet, Furnishings and Equipment (hierarchy name), Containers (hierarchy name), containers (receptacles), <containers by form>) (AAT)

List/Hierarchical Position:

..... Movable Works

.......... Movable Works by class: decorative and utilitarian works

Sources and Contributors:
Ipu ngarahu (pigment container)	........ [VP,TePapa]
	........ Te Papa online (2000-) http://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/ObjectDetails.aspx?oid=614914
	........ Te Papa spreadsheet (2012)

Subject: ....... [VP,TePapa]

....................... Te Papa spreadsheet (2012)

Note:
English	..... [VP]
	..... Te Papa online (2000-) http://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/ObjectDetails.aspx?oid=614914