Māori chief, Terero Tamati.

[graphic].

Bibliographic Details
Main Creator:	Mason, Thomas Holmes, 1877-1958, photographer
Contributors:	Thomas H. Mason & Sons photographers
In collection:	Mason Photographic Collection
Format:	Photo
Language:	English
Published / Created:	[ca. 1890-1910].
Notes:	In our catalogue, this photo was originally titled "Australia label, looks like New Zealand - Maori traditional dress". Research by our Flickr Commons users established that this man was Māori chief, Terero Tamati. The original photographer was New Zealand woman, Elizabeth Pulman. She was an early proponent of photographic copyright protection, and her efforts resulted in its introduction into New Zealand law. The feathers were from the huia bird, that became extinct because its feathers were prized by both Māori and Pākehā. We are viewing the Ta Moko on the left side of the face that relates to the father's history. Originally, Ta Moko was chiselled into the skin using an albatross bone. The pigmentations used were Carui gum and dye from other vegetation that was rendered to a soot, and then mixed with oil. Each tribal area used different pigments. Additional information about this photograph is available on the National Library of Ireland's Flickr Commons photostream http://www.flickr.com/photos/nlireland/49246544886/ Physical description: Glass slide 1. more
Arrangement:	Sub-fond.

An Australian? I think not!

The title on this is Australia label, looks like New Zealand - Maori traditional dress but knowing Kiwis the last thing they would wish would be to be called Australian. Having said that, Australians would have a similar attitude but in reverse. This Mason image itself shows a heavily tattooed person with feathers in their hair and a typical Maori cloak. I wonder how that got into the Mason collection?

UPDATE: Thanks very much for all of the fascinating contributions on this gentleman, who turned out to be Māori chief, Terero Tamati, (thanks BeachcomberAustralia). We got great information on the original New Zealand photographer, Elizabeth Pulman, from suckindeesel. Besides being a photographer, Pulman was an early proponent of photographic copyright protection, and her efforts resulted in its introduction into New Zealand law. We're indebted to Blue Mountains Library, Local Studies in NSW, Australia for beautifully detailed information about the tattoos, feathers, and ornamentation evident in the photograph of this Māori chief, Terero Tamati.

Photographer: Elizabeth Pulman

Collection: Mason Photographic Collection

Date: 1890 - 1910

NLI Ref: M51/3

You can also view this image, and many thousands of others, on the NLI’s catalogue at catalogue.nli.ie

Comments

ɹǝqɯoɔɥɔɐǝq

A Google Image Search comes up with this - "Teroro Tamati, New Zealand Maori Chief with facial tattoos 1880. (Photo by: Photo 12/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)" www.gettyimages.com.au/detail/news-photo/teroro-tamati-ne...

Posted: 20.12.2019

ɹǝqɯoɔɥɔɐǝq

The Maori / New Zealand tattoos explained - tattooartfromtheheart.com/tattoo-meanings/maori-tattoos-m...

Posted: 20.12.2019

suckindeesel

One of a series of photos believed to have been taken by Kiwi photographer Elizabeth Pulman according to Daily Mail article www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3467983/A-visual-languag...

Posted: 20.12.2019

ɹǝqɯoɔɥɔɐǝq

Flickr is sometimes amazing! Same fellow? Via [https://www.flickr.com/photos/internetarchivebookimages/] There is a little info in the blurb ...[https://www.flickr.com/photos/internetarchivebookimages/14594448669/in/photostream/]

Posted: 20.12.2019

suckindeesel

See wiki en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Pulman

Posted: 20.12.2019

suckindeesel

Her biography teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/2p32/pulman-elizabeth So, pre 1900

Posted: 20.12.2019

ɹǝqɯoɔɥɔɐǝq

At the New Zealand Archives website, including "These Maori portraits were included as part of an 1889 copyright application file from Elizabeth Pulman." See the title on the photo, cropped out in the NLI Mason version ... web.archive.org/web/20160212012946/http://archives.govt.n... ping @ [https://www.flickr.com/photos/archivesnz/]

Posted: 20.12.2019

suckindeesel

She was an early proponent of copyright protection. In 1871 she wrote to the New Zealand Herald asking the public not to buy pirated copies of a photograph taken by her late husband of a map of the Thames goldfield, which was a large part of her income. The NLI glass slide has her copyright mark and studio name cropped out. Her photos were albumen prints. Account of her efforts to achieve copyright protection resulting in its introduction in NZ law. www.canterburymuseum.com/discover/stories/new-zealands-fi...

Posted: 20.12.2019

oaktree_brian_1976

they made those tattoos with wooden tools. ouch

Posted: 20.12.2019

suckindeesel

News report of 2016 auction of her Maori work. www.shropshirestar.com/north-shropshire-chronicle/2016/02...

Posted: 20.12.2019

suckindeesel

[https://www.flickr.com/photos/66151649@N02] Even Rihanna got one www.eonline.com/news/468300/rihanna-gets-a-painful-tattoo...

Posted: 20.12.2019

Blue Mountains Library, Local Studies

I believe the hair adornment comprises Huia feathers. Traditionally, the variety of items used to adorn the head – the most tapu part of the body – were an important part of dress. The huia became extinct because its feathers were prized by both Māori and Pākehā. Huia had 12 black tail feathers tipped with white. These could be worn singly, or the entire tail might be smoke-dried and worn in the hair. It is also recorded that huia tail feathers were used in ancient times to make a special kind of war headdress, the 12-feathered marereko. Huia feathers were so treasured that specially carved boxes called waka huia were made to store them safely. teara.govt.nz/en/maori-clothing-and-adornment-kakahu-maor... Unless the negative has been reversed, we are viewing the Ta Moko on the left side of the face that relates to the father's history, the right side is for the mother's history - not so much of it at this stage, apparently. Originally, Ta Moko was chiselled into the skin using an albatross bone. The pigmentations used were Carui gum and dye from other vegetation that was rendered to a soot and then mixed with oil. Each tribal area used different pigments. australianmuseum.net.au/about/history/exhibitions/body-ar... See also this man with deeply engraved Ta Moko from our collection - flic.kr/p/wDjAAz

Posted: 21.12.2019

National Library of Ireland on The Commons

[https://www.flickr.com/photos/blue_mountains_library_-_local_studies] Thank you so much for your comment, much appreciated.

Posted: 21.12.2019

suckindeesel

[https://www.flickr.com/photos/blue_mountains_library_-_local_studies] The image is correct way around, see this version with title on bottom web.archive.org/web/20160212012946/http://archives.govt.n...

Posted: 21.12.2019