Story: Crafts and applied arts

Repoussé fire guard, early 20th century

Repoussé fire guard, early 20th century

Māori motifs and subjects became popular in crafts in the early 20th century. This repoussé brass fire guard is embellished with a traditional Māori village complete with wharenui (meeting house), people of various ages, cabbage trees and nīkau palm. Repoussé is a metalwork technique in which the reverse side is beaten to produce an image in low relief on the other side.

Using this item

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Reference: GH011313

Permission of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Douglas Lloyd Jenkins and Lucy Hammonds, 'Crafts and applied arts - Craft from the 1900s to 1920s', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/object/45276/repousse-fire-guard-early-20th-century (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Douglas Lloyd Jenkins and Lucy Hammonds, published 22 Oct 2014