Carving out change
Maori Folk Art Occasional Table,
1878-1919, Menzies, John Henry (1840–1919), New Zealand. Purchased 2009. Te Papa
Maori art in the mainstream
Around 1900, Māori motifs increasingly appeared in New Zealand houses, decorating items such as tables, beds, and fire surrounds. This adoption of Māori art by mainstream Pākehā (European New Zealanders) reflected their wish to express a new identity.