Feather Cape

FROM T NUMBER CARD: "NO. 66. WAMWAMI (OR WAMAMI)? [sic, probably Wanganui?] NEW ZEALAND. COLLECTOR/DONOR CAPT. WILSON (OR WIKNO)? SMALL - VARIEGATED FROM KAHU HURA [sic, more probably this should be kura, not hura]. INCLUDES PEACOCK FEATHERS. FOUND IN COLLECTIONS WITH NO NUMBER." Formerly on exhibit in NMNH Exhibit Hall 8, Case 48, "Maori Life Group." (Exhibit dismantled in 2004)

Based on old original tags with artifacts, ET9350, ET11446 and ET12245 appear to be from the same collection. It seems, though these tags are faded and fragmentary, that they say Wanganui on them, as well as identifying the pieces. It may be speculated that ET105 may be from this same collection as well?, though it has no old tag with it to confirm that. The tag for ET12245 appears to be written on/over a visiting card printed with a name R W Woon. There was a Richard Watson Woon (1834 - 1888) who was a Native Interpreter and Clerk to the Bench and Resident Magistrate in Wanganui, New Zealand in the 1800's. The handwriting on these tags matches Woon's handwriting in letters in the collections of the Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, N.Z.

See pp. 615 - 617 in Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute Volume 9, 1876; link to p. 617 here: http://rsnz.natlib.govt.nz/image/rsnz_09/rsnz_09_02_0749_0617_ac_01.html . On 16 September 1876, Dr. James Hector gave an account of his travels to a meeting of the Wellington Philosophical Society, including information on the New Zealand exhibits at the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia: "He mentioned the objects which appeared to attract most attention, and referred particularly to the exhibition of Feather Furs by Mr. Liardet, a magnificent series of Photographs by Mr. Deveril, Messrs. Burton Bros., and others, and a fine collection of Maori exhibits forwarded by Mr. Richard Woon, R.M., of Wanganui." On p. 223 of the book Norton, Frank H., and Frank Leslie. 1877. Frank Leslie's historical register of the United States Centennial Exposition, 1876. Embellished with nearly eight hundred illustrations drawn expressly for this work by the most eminent artists in America. Including illustrations and descriptions of all previous International exhibitions. New York: Frank Leslie's Pub. House, there is a description of the New Zealand section at the Centennial Exposition, including descriptions of Maori artifacts displayed there: "There are also ... flax mats, ornamented with red feathers of the kaka, or mounted parrot; others interwoven with feathers of the native wood-pigeon, one in particular intended as a gift to the President of the United States ... ."

ET105 is a flax and feather cape or cloak, with wide bottom border, and narrow side borders, of taniko (geometric patterning) of black-dyed and natural muka (flax fiber). See the list of the collection made by Richard Watson Woon for display at the New Zealand exhibit of the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia; see list on p. 335 of Great Britain. Executive commission, Philadelphia exhibition, 1876. 1876. Official catalogue of the British section, Part I. London: Printed by G.E. Eyre and W. Spottiswoode, for Her Majesty's stationery office, http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015067183486;view=1up;seq=345 . If ET105 is indeed from Woon, despite an apparent mismatch of original numbers, this object may be the one listed as: "38. [original owner] Captain Wirihana Puna. - Kakahu Kura, ornamented flax and feather mat; intended as a gift to the President of the United States." Kakahu kura, also called Kahu kura, are cloaks woven with the feathers of of the New Zealand kaka (Nestor meridionalis), a native parrot.