Door Lintel (Pare)
Pacific Islands, Polynesia, New Zealand, Māori people · 1800s · Cleveland Museum of Art
Guide
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From the museum
In the past, a lintel (pare) was placed over the entryway of Māori meeting houses, which are sacred structures. Thus, the visitor passed under the lintel’s central deity figure, often a female but here of unclear sex. To either side is an animal-like guardian spirit (manaia) shown in profile and facing outward; look for the feet grasping the lintel’s borders. Two guardian spirits (manaia) flank the central deity figure of this lintel (pare).
The museum’s own description, in English. Licence: CC0
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Details
- Maker
- Pacific Islands, Polynesia, New Zealand, Māori people
- Date
- 1800s
- Medium
- wood, pigment
- Dimensions
- Overall: 35 x 75.6 cm (13 3/4 x 29 3/4 in.)
- Place of origin
- Pacific Islands
- Held by
- Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland · Not on view
- Credit line
- The Mary Spedding Milliken Memorial Collection, Gift of William Mathewson Milliken
Image: Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0