Kitsch

Archaeological Kitsch

Archaeological items of iconic status can become the subject of modern copies and re-use of the imagery. New Zealand items are not immune.

Kitsch is a pejorative term applied here in respect of images which are uplifted from other contexts and pay but little respect to their original makers. Many uses on tourist items are simply cultural appropriation.

Of course not all uses necessarily do that and modern Maori use as an expression of connection to the land an obvious exception.

The most common reproduction below is of part of the frieze in a rock shelter at Opihi in South Canterbury. Commonly only one part of the freeze is used and some are clearly copies of copies where the original location within a frieze is forgotten. The figure is usually called a taniwha but there is no traditional justification for that appellation.

The shelter is low so there is no one point where all of it can be viewed and viewing it in part involves lying on the floor. It is a treasure of New Zealand and Māori art.

The Te Ana Rock Art Center in Timaru https://www.teana.co.nz/ run by Ngāi Tahu runs tours that include this site.

Ngāi Tahu have endorsed their local descent group, Te Rūnanga o Arowhenua as the kaitiaki, the cultural guardians, of the images and the site. They should be involved in any future reuse.

Other Māori representations are also potentially cultural property or where more recent are in the ownership of the original artists. Any reuse should respect this.

Maori Rock Art

Rock drawings seem to have been particularly prone to this - borrowings appearing on fabrics, glassware, ceramics, postage stamps and even matchboxes. O'Regan discusses this use in the context of cultural property. Most of the glyphs used here were first recorded by Theo Schoon. He had a low opinion of New Zealanders' art appreciation at the time. He said: "Maybe someday, the bourgeoisie will have lampshades, with drawings derived from these rock drawings, or as a welcome break from the pokerwork kiwi". His expectations were met. A scarf with many images from rock art.

Scarves
Another scarf.	Another colourway.	Yet another.	And another.
Another scarf.	A further scarf.
Glasses
In the 1960s peanut butter was sold in packaging like these - which could be used as glasses after they were emptied.	Another one.	A variety.	Full set?
Enamelled Dishes
Enamelled dishes, central one labelled by CERAWARE.	Another enamelled dish.	Souvenir ware.
		Corporate advertising
In packaging	Reverse	Used in coasters	More
Stamps
Rock art used on a commemorative stamp	Rock art used on a definitive stamp	On an album cover
Fabric / Carpet
Rock art used on fabric. This was produced by blockprinting by poet Rex Fairburn. He obtained the artwork for this from Theo Schoon and reproduced using linocut blocks. Wikipedia has an article on Schoon. Another print can be seen here. Fairburn and Schoon have Dictionary of New Zealand Biography entries.	A wall hanging on fabric.	Feltex Rug, designed by Don Ramage 1972, featuring a Maori Rock Drawing inspired abstract figure.	Table mat with that taniwha again.
Another place mat	Tablecloth	Placemat
Ceramics
A rock art image often interpreted as an eagle used on a lamp base.	Dorothy Ewart pottery dish.	Another Dorothy Ewart pottery piece.	The stamp on a Crown Lynn dish - ultimate Kiwiana?. Some think so. In 2014 an example of this sold on Trademe for $110.
Matchboxes
A rock art image on a box of matches.	The back.	More matches.	Still more. ;
Furniture
Enamelled coffee table.	Another enamelled coffee table.
Wall Decorations Enamelled
Enamelled wall plaque.
Wall Decorations Copper
Copper wall plaque.	Another. Grosvenor Copperware	More	Still another
Wall Decorations Wood
Wooden wall plaque.	Another wooden piece.	That "Taniwha" again.	And again.
Another wooden wall plaque.	Yet another wooden piece.
Clothing
Women's top
Jewellery
Cuff Bracelet	Pendant

Maori Other

Someone's idea of a nephrite adze - for sale as a replica on TradeMe

Colonial

Barry Curtis Park in South Auckland has volcanic rock walls, reconstructed from a nearby farm site. The unfortunate result is what happens when landscape architecture captures archaeological reconstruction. Reconstructed walls The sign Walls Yet more walls

Not Quite Archaeological

An execrable souvenir of the 1940 Centennial Exhibition. A Birmingham made badge representing the Hinemoa and Tutanekai gateway at the Model Pa, Whakarewarewa. It doesn't include a kiwi! This sold for $113.99 on Trademe so its awfullness was certainly appreciated. In 2020 another sold on Trademe for $146.00 The gateway itself is an example of bowdlerisation of Maori carving.

DC Comics at its best?

Moa were once used as icons - where Kiwi are today. This a WW1 reinforcement badge

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