Hei tiki (human-shaped pendants) are among the most precious objects of value (taonga) handed down by Māori. The pendants are mostly made of pounamu (nephrite or greenstone), the eyes inlaid with the shell of the pāua snail (Haliotis spec.). As far as gender is represented at all, historical hei tiki are mostly female figures. The significance of the hei tiki remains unclear, but they are still important heirlooms passed down through generations, keeping alive the memory of their previous owners. The angular form of the hei tiki (Inv. No. 120174; left object in the illustration) points to a used adze blade as the basic material, while its size suggests it was probably manufactured towards the end of the 19th century. Text: Ulrich Menter