Heritage et AL

Awekura is a kupu drawn from Māori weaponry, particularly the taiaha. It refers to the arero, the tongue of the taiaha, which is adorned with kura, red feathers. The term reflects both the physical beauty and their deeper spiritual and narrative significance. Awekura is the name given to our blog and podcast series that showcases treasures within Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections, presented by our library specialists. Are you interested in learning more about the world of publishing? Renée Orr from Curatorial Services shares with us a recent acquisition. This fascinating example of a private press book about the Japanese artist Hiroshige was once owned by Auckland artist Hilda Wiseman and is adorned with her bookplate. Image: P Neville Barnett. Hiroshige. 1938.   The artist   Japanese woodblock artist Hiroshige (1797-1858) is acknowledged as a master of landscape art in the “Ukiyo-e” genre, which was a popular Japanese art form from the beginning of the 17th to the end o...

The North Auckland Research Centre is hosting an exhibition of bookplates at the Takapuna Library in the Angela Morton Art History Reading Room. The exhibition is open during library hours through until Sunday 12 July. The Angela Morton Reading Room is a very appropriate venue for this exhibition as bookplates straddle the worlds of art and literature. The most substantial monograph on bookplates in New Zealand is In another dimension by Ian Thwaites. He describes bookplates, or Ex Libris, as labels which are inserted into books to establish their ownership. He adds that “they are attractive items which often reflect in a unique way the personalities and interests of both owner and artist (p.9).” In the preface of this book John Stacpoole states, “A bookplate helps to establish the provenance of a book, sometimes adding to its value, but always making a link between past and present owners whose hands have held it. It is a reminder that the owner is – or was – a real person, ...