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Names in Stone

The museum approached sculptor Denis O’Connor, and gave him a simple brief: to design a cartouche which featured the list of 110 donors.

"Wunderpus O Sea", Octavia Cook

Who owns an idea? When does a conventional form become a unique and distinctive design? Auckland Museum recently acquired a brooch by contemporary jeweller Octavia Cook which explores these concepts, and responds to a particular situation in which she found herself in last year.

Ingrid Anderson

One of New Zealand’s foremost textile designers, Ingrid Anderson’s bold colourful designs can be found in homes and businesses throughout the country. Auckland Museum has recently acquired a small group of textiles produced by Anderson.

Susan Holmes: Fabric Artist

Over four decades award-winning Auckland fabric artist Susan Holmes established a broad repertoire of fabric art skills - documented in the new book Susan Holmes - Fabric Artist by Cerys Dallaway-Davidson. Read an extract on Stenciling here.

Barry Brickell

The papers of Barry Brickell demonstrate the artist's all-consuming passion for pottery, steam trains, and conservation.

E Kete: Baskets from the Cook Islands

In celebration of Cook Islands language week (31 July – 6 August 2016) we have installed three kete or baskets from the southern Cook Islands in our Te Kākano display case.

The Reverend's gift

This whāriki was given to the Reverend Jasper Calder by Māori who wanted to recognise his mana or status. The mat could have been used as an altar cloth, given its small size.

The Mulvany Sisters

Shoppers walking down Darby Street in 1929 might have come upon an interesting sight in a studio window - a woman sitting, busily weaving at a loom.

The Wynyard Testimonial

Although made in Victorian-era London, this sterling silver epergne clearly depicts a New Zealand scene - a Māori man, woman and child, and a British soldier underneath a ponga tree.

Service in the skies

Eating and drinking on board has been an important part of the flying experience ever since the first passenger spent more than a couple of hours in the air.

Tapa of the Pacific

Tapa or barkcloth made from the inner bark of certain trees is one of the most distinctive products of the cultures of the Pacific islands.

Emma Knuckey

It was a long way from post war rural Taranaki to the 'New Look' of Europe's fashion scene but, in 1949, Emma Knuckey left the farm and sailed with her husband to London.

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