Aalto Toi Maori Palette

The Aalto Toi Maori palette is inspired by the colours used by Maori artists in early meeting houses. The Vibrant and expansive range of colours for modern use has been created by Aalto Colour in collaboration with Roger Neich of the Auckland Museum, Helen Kedgely, curator of Pataka Museum and Maori artists Sandy Adsett and Darcy Nicholas.

           
Working Maori Arts New Zealand, and the collective body of Maori artists enabled Aalto to facilitate the formulating of a palette to help re-establish the colours used in Maori art during the early contact period of Maori and European. The Toi Maori palette reflects authentic colours used by Maori in early meeting houses, Kowhaiwhai and carvings. The colours do not reference any particular geographic area or iwi.

The Aalto Toi Maori palette is available as a hand painted colour chart, fan deck and brush-outs. The colours can be formulated in all Aalto acrylic and enamel products.

» View Toi Maori Palette

Name                          Meaning

Aalto Uku                   Mud/Clay

Aalto Papa              Volcanic earth


Aalto Tohu              Symbol of rank

Aalto Te Po               The Night

Aalto Muka               Flax fibre

Aalto Tuhi                  Redden

Aalto Mangu               Dark as ink

Aalto Koma                 Ashen

Aalto Miro                 Tree green

Aalto Waro                 Deep pit

Aalto Kiko                  Nut Kernel

Aalto Hua                       Roe

Aalto Punga               Yellow/Clay

Aalto Whiti              Rise as in light

Aalto Mara               Turned earth

Aalto Puna                    Pool

Aalto Ahi                      Fire

Aalto Muna                 Lichen

Aalto Raki                Green leaves

Aalto Weta                 Insect

Aalto Tahu            To burn, as to roast

Caution: Attempts to duplicate Aalto Colours by eye or by electronic means may give the illusion of a match but on the walls the resulting colours will lack the depth, subtlety and complexity of the original. Combinations of such colours will not 'work' in a colour scheme.

Copyright 2001 Aalto Colours Limited

The colours and colour names contained in Aalto Toi Maori range are the subject of copyright and may not be copied or adapted without prior consent of the copyright holder. The formulations for the induvidual colours are also the property of the copyright holder and are not available from other manufacturers or retailers.