3/25/2023 0 Comments Shrunken heads on display![]() ![]() This included the chief of the tribe making the head to preserve their likeness in death or from the enemies kept and displayed as trophies of war. The act of Mokomakai was mainly reserved for men of high status who wore full moko tattoos on their faces. But even before western collectors became drawn to the dead remains of other cultures, the head held certain purposes to the Māori, who practiced this tradition of head preservation through shrinking. By the time of the Musket Wars of the 19th century, they were used for trading for guns and thus became “easy artifacts” to be acquired by collectors. Māori preserved heads were sacred in cultural ceremonies, and with European contact, they became unlikely valuable trade items. Please check your inbox to activate your subscription Thank you! Why Shrink a Head? Aotearoa: Mokomakai Preserved Māori head which was one of many taken by western collectors in the 1800s, via History Daily This completed product could be hung over a fire to harden and blacken further, and then the pegs holding the lips could be removed. Finally, the exterior skin is rubbed with charcoal ash to darken it. The application of these helps seal the skin and shape the features. Once the head is at the desired size, the small stones and sand are removed, and even more hot stones are applied this time to the outside. This tans and helps preserve the skin, much like leathering animal skin. The head is then dried out further by inserting hot stones and sand to cause it to contract inwards. The left-over skin is then sewn back together. This treated skin is turned inside out, and any leftover flesh is scraped off before it is folded back. ![]() When the head is removed, it will be about one-third of its original size with dark and rubbery skin. ![]() Finally, the shrinking can begin as the head is put into a boiling pot for a certain period of time. Firstly, the skin and hair must be separated from the skull to maximize the amount of “shrinkage.” This is followed by the eyelids sewn shut and the mouth closed with a peg. Shrinking a head is much easier than you might think, although it is quite gruesome. How to Shrink a Head A collection of shrunken heads on display in “Ye Olde Curiosity Shop” in Seattle, Washington, 2008, via Wikipedia ![]()
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