Maori & Pacific Artefacts Thursday, 3 December 2020 - 6:00 PM start

A finely carved hoe

Lot Details

Maori ceremonial paddle with orthodox leaf-shaped blade fully decorated on both sides attributed to Tene Waitere (Ngati Tarawhai). The front carved in deep relief with three ancestral figures, each with cut paua shell eyes decorated with notched ridge (rauponga) and spiral (pakura) designs. The central male figure with unusual carved phallus, symbolic of virility and courage The lower section of the blade terminating in a wheku head. The reverse side of the blade with kowhaiwhai carving. The handle of serpentine shape with further kowhaiwhai carving confirming to the blade intersected by a wheku head with paua shell eyes and terminating in a manaia head. Length.1820mm.Y registration 4010 For a similar carved paddle attributed to Tene Waitere and held in the Canterbury Museum collection see Carved Histories: Rotorua Ngati Tarawhai carving by Roger Neich. P. 249. Figure 15.46