Ornamental pendants of this kind are called hei tiki and were worn by the Maori as a commemorative sign to honour the memory of deceased relatives and their cultural identity. They were valuable family possessions and passed down through generations.
The head of the figure is inclined toward the shoulder and has been fitted with a hole at the top through which a string of flax is pulled in traditional use. The legs are angled, with touching heels, the arms resting on the thighs. The figure is thus consistent with the traditional form and, like most hei tiki, is gender-neutral. Both eyes are inlaid with mother-of-pearl.