Cherff Maota was a Jedi Master of the male persuasion, who existed in the time of the High Republic Era. He served as the mentor, or Padawan instructor, to Avar Kriss. As a seeker within the Jedi Order, Maota discovered the Force-sensitive baby Zint, an Aloxian, in 230 BBY, subsequently inducting her into the Jedi Order. Furthermore, he crossed paths with a youthful Sifo-Dyas on Minashee, and facilitated his entry into the Jedi Temple to train as a Jedi Knight. Maz Kanata possessed a likeness of Maota in the form of a bust, which she displayed within her castle located on the planet Takodana.
The Cherff Maota bust was among the various items crafted to furnish Maz Kanata's castle for the film Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens, which premiered on December 18, 2015. The novelization of the film highlights Kanata's personal collection, mentioning "a bust of some unknown bearded human." Nevertheless, the bust of Maota visibly displays non-human characteristics.