TRADITIONAL MAORI WEAVING CHAIR
NEW ZEALAND
INTRODUCTION When the ancestors of Māori arrived in New Zealand, they found a plant which was used to make cloth on the Pacific islands. The found this didn’t thrive in the cooler climate. The substitue was a plant called harakeke (New Zealand flax). The leaves were cut carefully to preserve the centre shoot, and were stripped to extract muka (fibre). This was washed and beaten with a stone pounder, then hand-rolled into thread. Threads were dyed yellow, red-brown or black using tree bark or mud.
Close up of weaving technique with the colours of the Maori Flag
CONCEPT My concept is a modern chair design combined with a traditional Maori weaving pattern called Mumu. The materials used for the framing of the chair is Totara wood and the weaving is made from Harakeke flax.
TYPE OF WEAVE - Mumu Weaving Pattern Two strips of flax are combined and plaited under two and over two. INTRODUCTION When the ancestors of Māori arrived in New Zealand, they found that aute – the plant used to make cloth on Pacific islands – did not thrive in the cooler climate. They used harakeke (New Zealand flax) as the main substitute. Leaves were cut carefully to preserve the centre shoot, and were stripped to extract muka (fibre). This was washed and beaten with a stone pounder, then hand-rolled into thread. Threads were dyed yellow, red-brown or black using tree bark or mud. Tāniko – a technique used to decorate the borders of fine garments, as well as bird cages, bird traps, and eel baskets. Tāniko is similar to European twining. These days tāniko is used to make belts, purses, bodices, armbands, headbands, and bandoliers. Arapaki or tukutuku – ornamental latticework, usually found adorning the walls of wharenui. Piupiu – the art of making a flax garment worn around the waist. Whatu – the weaving technique known as the ‘cloak weave’, used to produce fabric. Whiri – various forms of plaiting used to make poi, waist girdles, and headbands. Raranga – one of the weaving styles used to make kete (bags and baskets).
TRADITIONAL MAORI WEAVING CHAIR
NEW ZEALAND