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THB20th C. Marquesas Islands Wooden U'u Club
Lot 167
About Seller
Artemis Gallery
686 S Taylor Ave, Ste 106
Louisville, CO 80027
United States
Selling antiquities, ancient and ethnographic art online since 1993, Artemis Gallery specializes in Classical Antiquities (Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Near Eastern), Asian, Pre-Columbian, African / Tribal / Oceanographic art. Our extensive inventory includes pottery, stone, metal, wood, glass and textil...Read more
Live Auction in Progress ... Currently on Lot Estimate:
$3,000 - $5,000
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| $0 | $25 |
| $300 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $2,500 |
| $50,000 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 | $20,000 |
About Auction
Live
By Artemis Gallery
May 23, 2019
Set Reminder
2019-05-23 10:00:00
2019-05-23 10:00:00
America/New_York
Bidsquare
Bidsquare : Exceptional Day 2 Ethnographic Tribal Fossils
https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/exceptional-day-2-ethnographic-tribal-fossils-4136
Day 2 of an important 2-day auction featuring exceptional ethnographic art from around the world. Today's sale will feature Pre-Columbian from the ancient americas, Native American, African / Tribal, Oceanic, Spanish Colonial, and incredible Fossils. Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
Day 2 of an important 2-day auction featuring exceptional ethnographic art from around the world. Today's sale will feature Pre-Columbian from the ancient americas, Native American, African / Tribal, Oceanic, Spanish Colonial, and incredible Fossils. Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
View Full Catalog (194)
- Lot Description
Oceania, French Polynesia, Marquesas Islands, Enata peoples, ca. first half of the 20th century CE. A fabulous u'u club, hand-carved from iron wood and meticulously polished to a smooth textured feel. The classic form of this example is comprised of a cylindrical shaft with a narrow vertical slit on one side leading upwards to a highly-stylized T-shaped paddle with a round, lightly-concave top. The neck of the paddle displays a set of highly-abstract janiform faces with dense carved motifs surrounding the lips and cheeks. Each side of the striking head depicts a pair of stylized human faces within radiating coronas as well as a third unadorned face below. Finely carved with raised decorations on both sides with rich, dark-brown matte patina. Size: 5.125" W x 44.2" H (13 cm x 112.3 cm); 44.7" H (113.5 cm) on included custom stand.
Wooden war clubs are common throughout Polynesia, but the face-shape is distinctive to the Marquesas, where the native name for a war club is "u'u." The motif seen on this club and ones like it are found throughout Marquesan carvings, including on wooden bowls and ear ornaments. They also would have been mirrored on the tattooed skin of the warrior who wielded the club, instantly recognizable to members of the culture as having a particular regional and personal identity.
Wood carving in the Marquesas Islands is a practice undertaken by many of the local master craftsmen, who are known as "tuhuna." The tuhuna are not only adept at wood carving, but are also skilled at tattoo art and adze manufacturing. Marquesan wooden crafts are considered among the finest in French Polynesia - they are highly sought after and of consistently high quality.
For a similar example, please see The Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 1979.206.1471: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/313659
A similar example hammered for $68,500 at Sotheby's, New York "African, Oceanic and Pre-Columbian Art Including Property from the Pierre and Tana Matisse Foundation" Auction (May 13, 2011, lot 315): http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2011/african-oceanic-and-precolumbian-art-n08749/lot.315.html
Another similar example hammered for EUR 145,500 ($171,504.34) at Christie's, Paris (sale 13638, June 23, 2016, lot 45): https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/sculptures-statues-figures/massue-uu-iles-marquises-epoque-1804-183-6004125-details.aspx?from=searchresults&intObjectID=6004125&sid=ed263db5-8785-43c1-8bd2-55dc86a1b60c
Provenance: private Newport Beach, California, USA collection; ex-William Cody collection, Palm Springs, California, USA
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
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#135746Minor abrasions to handle, pommel, and striking head, with softening to some finer details, wear to some raised areas, and light encrustations within some recessed areas, otherwise intact and excellent. Light earthen deposits and fabulous patina throughout. Old inventory label on handle.Condition
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