Lot 341

Pre Contact, Finely Carved Waka Huia - Treasure Box
Y14592.
Stone tool carved with triple haehae lines framing bold double rarua spirals and finely graduating pakati (dog tooth notching) and Tuara kuri (diamond notching) this remarkable wakahuia expresses the work an unknown master carver. The beautiful cocoon-shaped vessel is guarded by two tiki figures, one being a fully formed female with tongue extended and arms coming to rest powerfully on onto thighs and the other being a male head figure with fullly carved mouth and eyes which are dominated by a high forehead also carved across the ridge. The bottom section of the wakahuia offers five highly achieved double rarua spirals, again with triple haehae lines. A central rib line connecting the two tiki is carved in triple haehae with strong pakati (dog tooth notching). The lid of the wakahuia offer eight beautiful and intricately carved double rarua spirals with triple haehae lines the fine pakati (dog tooth notching) and Tuara kuri (diamond notching) graduating. Fine suspension holes (in both square and hourglass shape) evident at either end with what appears to be remnants of muka fibre remaining. Provenance: Gifted to Rev. Alfred Fairbrother, founder of the first Baptist Maori Mission in 1887, and key proponent of the temperance movement. Refer also the Rev. Alfred Fairbrother biography Dissolving Dreams 2004 by R.F Keam
L415mm W154mm.
Realised: $46,000 - June 2010

Please note that this lot is Y registered. You must be a registered collector or eligible to apply as a registered collector to bid on this lot. http://www.mch.govt.nz/protected-objects/taonga.html http://www.mch.govt.nz/protected-objects/register.html

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