Powaka Whakairo

Maybe the smallest Maori box extant? the British Museum has one described as before 1896 and measuring 12cm x 8cm x 8cm and is similar in style. This example measures 5cm x 3.5cm x 4cm. I think this is the only one known with a sliding lid. Roger Neich wrote an article on these types of boxes,  He describes about twenty known in museum and private collections.

19th century.

New Zealand.

Sold.