The procurement of a Maori Tattoo was truly an epic ordeal. No machines were used in producing the unique designs rather a bone chisel with either with a serrated or an extremely sharp and straight edge was used to carve canals into the skin. Following that, a chisel was dipped into a sooty type pigment such as burnt Kauri gum or burnt vegetable caterpillars, the recipe varied from tribe to tribe, and then tapped into the skin.

While the facial tattooing is well known, the North Auckland warriors also tattooed swirling double spirals into both buttocks, down their legs to the knee.
It was an extremely painful and long process but all high-ranking Maori were tattooed, beginning at puberty. Those who went without tattoos were seen as persons of no social status.

Women were also tattooed though not as extensively as the men. The chin moko was always the most popular, and continued to be practiced even into the 1970’s.

Read more about Maori Tattooing.

image:Maori Rangi (chief) with full face moko, circa 1915.

Labels: ethnic, history, tattoos