30 incredible portraits of Maori women with traditional tattoos

By the end of the XIX century the art of Maori tattoo has almost disappeared due to the spread in New Zealand bounty hunting, but later the tradition was revived. These portraits of māori women made in the early XX century.

A traditional Maori tattoo – Maori Moko – has a long history and has a sacred value for the indigenous new Zealanders.

Stuffed it with a special tool "soup", which, together with the pattern left on the skin scars.

Tattoo Maori called TA Moko or Moko.

Women often apply it on the chin, sometimes on the hips and waist, while men covered with tattoos all over the face.

The figure symbolized the social status of the individual in society.

Women's Moko on the chin was considered a physical manifestation of their true nature

Keywords: Women | Maori | Tattoo | Tradition

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