Vintage Māori Portrait Plaques Pair Enameleen Coulls Somerville Wilkie Ltd NZ 40s

ITEM SPECIFICS

• Type: Wall Plaque / Picture Plaque (pair)
• Brand/Maker: Coulls Somerville Wilkie Ltd (Enameleen Medallion)
• Country/Region of Manufacture: New Zealand
• Subject: Māori Portraits (Goldie-style)
• Material: Enamel-coated board
• Originality: Vintage Original
• Era: c. 1940s–1960s
• Number of Pieces: 2
• Featured Refinements: Māori / New Zealand Souvenir Art
• Condition: Used – vintage

DESCRIPTION

A pair of vintage New Zealand Māori portrait plaques, produced as "Enameleen Medallions" by Coulls Somerville Wilkie Ltd (Dunedin, NZ), a well-known mid-20th-century printing and publishing firm (origins from 1871; traded under this name 1922–1971 before merging into Whitcoulls). The portraits reproduce the celebrated Māori elder paintings in the style of C. F. Goldie.

Each plaque is an enamel-coated board with a gold-finished reverse, wired and ready to hang. The backs carry the printed maker's mark "Enameleen Medallion – Manufactured by Coulls Somerville Wilkie Ltd," along with handwritten subject labels:

• Werepene Ninia – Ngātiawa Chieftainess
• The second plaque also bears an old handwritten caption typical of mid-century NZ souvenirs. Such wording reflects the era in which the piece was made and is not language that would be used today; it is noted here only for accurate historical description.

Genuine vintage pieces of New Zealand printing and art history, with appeal to collectors of Goldie-style reproductions and NZ/Māori heritage ephemera.

Measurements & Weight

Plaque 1

• Size: 32 × 17.5 cm
• Weight: 171 g

Plaque 2

• Size: 25 × 19 cm
• Weight: 200 g

Both plaques show honest age-related wear including foxing/spotting, surface scuffing and edge wear (please see photos). One board is fragile, consistent with its age — please handle with care. Sold as a pair. Display stands shown in photos are not included.

Please review all images as they form part of the description. Happy to answer any questions.

Features

• Mid-century New Zealand souvenir art
• Enamel-coated portrait reproductions (Goldie-style Māori elders)
• Historic named Māori subjects with original handwritten labels
• Gold-finished reverse
• Produced by Coulls Somerville Wilkie Ltd, Dunedin
• Matching pair

Feel free to send me a message and submit an offer. You're welcome to do so.

Customs & Import Duties For international orders, any customs fees, import taxes, or duties are the buyer's responsibility. Orders shipped to the United States have applicable duties and taxes calculated and included at checkout — no additional charges on delivery. This applies to USA orders only. Buyers in all other countries are responsible for any local customs charges. If unsure, we recommend checking with your local customs office before purchasing.

Packaging All fragile items are carefully packed for safe delivery using recycled materials where possible.

Before You Buy Please review all photos carefully as they form part of the item description. Colours may vary slightly due to screen settings — we do our best to represent items accurately but an exact colour match cannot be guaranteed.