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THBOrnate 20th C. Maori Wood Canoe Tauihu Prow
Lot 242
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 - $4,500
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About Auction
Live
By Artemis Gallery
Mar 24, 2022
Set Reminder
2022-03-24 10:00:00
2022-03-24 10:00:00
America/New_York
Bidsquare
Bidsquare : Exceptional Antiquities Ethnographic Fine Art
https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/exceptional-antiquities-ethnographic-fine-art-9057
Museum-worthy examples of classical antiquities (Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Near Eastern), Viking, Far East / Asian, Pre-Columbian, African / Tribal, Oceanic, Native American, Spanish Colonial, Fossils, Ancient Jewelry, Fine / Visual Arts, so much more! Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
Museum-worthy examples of classical antiquities (Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Near Eastern), Viking, Far East / Asian, Pre-Columbian, African / Tribal, Oceanic, Native American, Spanish Colonial, Fossils, Ancient Jewelry, Fine / Visual Arts, so much more! Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
View Full Catalog (416)
- Lot Description
Oceania, New Zealand, Maori, ca. early to mid 20th century CE. This is an incredibly ornate canoe prow known a tauihu with several figure heads, hand-carved from wood, and inlaid with nacre shells. The piece is composed of 3 pieces- a thick base with a V shaped slot for mounting on the canoe with a figure etched in the center, and head projecting from the front. An upright panel with a relief carved figure faces into the boat and represents a hauki guardian figure, an ancestor watching over the paddlers. A sweeping openwork fin with swirling spiral motifs and a figure with a bird-like beak on the tip, and a second figure along the spine represent additional deities and guardian spirits. Each figure is a stylized tiki form, with incised curvilinear details and the eyes of all are inlaid with nacre. Throughout is a beautiful dark and lustrous patina of a red-brown hue, and this may have been a handsome and imposing prow on a war canoe! Size: 38" L x 13" W x 23" H (96.5 cm x 33 cm x 58.4 cm)
Maori wood carving is an incredible art form, as this piece can attest to, its practitioners rightly recognized as masters. Their woodcarving tradition lasted in many areas into the later nineteenth century despite colonization and missionaries. Carving schools in several areas of the country kept the Maori tradition alive. Carvers used local trees, and a prayer known as a karakia would be said prior to cutting them down, thus showing respect for the forest. Their war canoes, known as waka taua, were lengthy vessels that were not only swift battleships, but symbols of prestige with symbolic ancestor figures that would watch over and imbue power to the paddlers.
For a similar example and more detailed information about Maori prow carvings please see the Penn Museum website article "Maori War Canoe Ornaments" by H. U. Hall, Museum Bulletin V, no. 5 (March 1935): 55-59, and the Penn Museum object number: 18128.
Provenance: Whisnant Gallery, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA acquired prior to 2000
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.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.
Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.
#170373The 3 main wood pieces easily come apart via pegs and tenons and are missing several pegs and is slightly loose when upright, but easily could be reinforced. Wear chips and abrasions to base due to shifting of wood panels and small areas of discoloration with a modern white pigment. Nicks to high pointed area of largest panel, but overall excellent condition and intact carvings.Condition
- Shipping Info
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