The Frances Ryman Collection
THU 24 SEP 2009 - 6:00PM
12th to 17th Century Artefacts of Aotearoa
In consultation with Te Papa Tongarewa and Steve Austin, Director of Marlborough Museum, Webb’s is honoured to be offering The Frances Ryman Collection which represents one of the most significant archaeological assemblages of 12th to 17th century Mãori artifacts to be offered in living memory. Providing a unique insight into Aotearoa’s earliest settled history, the collection holds extraordinary examples of supreme craftsmanship, including one of 14 known Rei Puta, an extremely rare and and unusual soapstone amulet (as illustrated) and other significant artifacts. Aspects of this assemblage are documented in Barry Brailsford’s influential 1981 publication The Tattooed Land.
Also being auctioned during this sale: Maori Artifacts, Oceanic Arts and Decorative Arts:http://www.webbs.co.nz/auction/maori-artifacts-oceanic-arts-and-decorative-arts-0
Neil Campbell
+64 9 529 5603 MB +64 21 875 966
+64 9 529 5603 MB +64 21 875 966
An Extremely Rare 13th Century Maori Amulet
800
The Ryman Collection
This important and rare assembage of pre-contact material including an extremely rare whalebone Rei Puta head fragment with one inset greenstone eye, and a unique carved soapstone amulet. To be offered as one lot in accordance with the vendor's wishes.
$80,000 - $120,000
This important and rare assembage of pre-contact material including an extremely rare whalebone Rei Puta head fragment with one inset greenstone eye, and a unique carved soapstone amulet. To be offered as one lot in accordance with the vendor's wishes.
$80,000 - $120,000
8001
An Extremely Rare Whalebone Rei Puta Head Segment
Described on the Cetificate of Examination of Taonga Tutura issued by The Museum of New Zealand as 'Point of unique Rei Puta whale tooth amulet in shape of a reptile head.' The piece being the fire blackened and damaged head portion with one eye intact and inlaid with dark pounamu; an incised spiral in relief above the eye and with the mouth displaying a row of teeth. Late Classic Period. Formerly on loan to the Canterbury Museum.Length 40.10mm, Width 36.88mm, Depth 16.77mm. Y12892.
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Described on the Cetificate of Examination of Taonga Tutura issued by The Museum of New Zealand as 'Point of unique Rei Puta whale tooth amulet in shape of a reptile head.' The piece being the fire blackened and damaged head portion with one eye intact and inlaid with dark pounamu; an incised spiral in relief above the eye and with the mouth displaying a row of teeth. Late Classic Period. Formerly on loan to the Canterbury Museum.Length 40.10mm, Width 36.88mm, Depth 16.77mm. Y12892.
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8002
A Unique Amulet of Soapstone
Fashioned from soapstone, this amulet is described by Barry Brailsford as "an abstract human form drilled to be hung around the neck on a cord". The drilled hole has worn away, and it has to be said that the face of this amulet, notably in the formation of the nose and jaw, is perhaps more like that of an animal than a human. The simplified body relates to that of the human form however. These kinds of amulets have been associated with the d'Urville Island, and top of the South Island regions and relate back strongly to East Polynesian applied art. There is a comparable amulet in the Nelson Provincial Museum, associated with a site at Patuki on d'Urville Island, found by Jim Eyles (1978). In his book (2007), he describes it as being made of talc. It is a similar abstract human form, in that it the upper section is a head with a human face, attached to an abbreviated torso, with stylized buttocks, knee, and upper thigh.One other related piece (from the Hornsey Collection) is illustrated in H. D.Skinner's 1935 publication. That example has an almost a bird-like face. Skinner noted a relationship between the bird-headed human figures, and lizard amulets found in New Zealand, and those found on Easter Island, and in the carving of the Marquesas.
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Fashioned from soapstone, this amulet is described by Barry Brailsford as "an abstract human form drilled to be hung around the neck on a cord". The drilled hole has worn away, and it has to be said that the face of this amulet, notably in the formation of the nose and jaw, is perhaps more like that of an animal than a human. The simplified body relates to that of the human form however. These kinds of amulets have been associated with the d'Urville Island, and top of the South Island regions and relate back strongly to East Polynesian applied art. There is a comparable amulet in the Nelson Provincial Museum, associated with a site at Patuki on d'Urville Island, found by Jim Eyles (1978). In his book (2007), he describes it as being made of talc. It is a similar abstract human form, in that it the upper section is a head with a human face, attached to an abbreviated torso, with stylized buttocks, knee, and upper thigh.One other related piece (from the Hornsey Collection) is illustrated in H. D.Skinner's 1935 publication. That example has an almost a bird-like face. Skinner noted a relationship between the bird-headed human figures, and lizard amulets found in New Zealand, and those found on Easter Island, and in the carving of the Marquesas.
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8003
A Kawa Kawa Pounamu Adze Section
of deep green stone, the finely worked cutting edge with evidence of use. L.56.31mm. Y13025
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of deep green stone, the finely worked cutting edge with evidence of use. L.56.31mm. Y13025
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8004
A Pounamu Adze Chisel Section
of mid green stone with the fine blade showing a tiny chip. Scarf cuts to each side. Missing upper section. L39.9mm., together with two black stone fragments, both showing scarf cuts. 3 items. (Y12933,Y12932,Y12930)
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of mid green stone with the fine blade showing a tiny chip. Scarf cuts to each side. Missing upper section. L39.9mm., together with two black stone fragments, both showing scarf cuts. 3 items. (Y12933,Y12932,Y12930)
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8005
Three Trolling Lure Shank Sections
one of pale green lime stone, (repaired) 13th cent., L.40.65mm., another of pale green lime stone L.54.26mm., and one of fawn lime stone, 41.96mm. 3 items. Y13001, Y13003, Y13002
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one of pale green lime stone, (repaired) 13th cent., L.40.65mm., another of pale green lime stone L.54.26mm., and one of fawn lime stone, 41.96mm. 3 items. Y13001, Y13003, Y13002
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8006
A Very Small Pounamu Adze
an adze fragment of mid green stone with a fine translucent cutting edge. L.24.3mm., together with two pounamu chisel and adze fragments. L.53.89mm., and 34.69mm. Y12937, Y13024, Y13004 3 items.
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an adze fragment of mid green stone with a fine translucent cutting edge. L.24.3mm., together with two pounamu chisel and adze fragments. L.53.89mm., and 34.69mm. Y12937, Y13024, Y13004 3 items.
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8007
A Pounamu Whao Chisel Section
of fine olive-green stone with evenly polished surface, L.50mm., together with an obsidian flake blade,49.46mm., a drilled trolling lure fragment, L.21.94mm., a Pakohe-argillite worked fragment, L.27.15mm., a worked pounamu fragment,L.31.82mm., a pounamu toki adze section,L.58.56mm., a pounamu toki adze section, L.47.07mm., a small pounamu fragment, L.20.29mm., two pounamu worked fragments,L.47.5mm.and 47.92mm. 10 items. Y12927, Y12940, Y12941, Y12942, Y12943, Y12944, Y12945, Y12946, Y12947, Y12948.
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of fine olive-green stone with evenly polished surface, L.50mm., together with an obsidian flake blade,49.46mm., a drilled trolling lure fragment, L.21.94mm., a Pakohe-argillite worked fragment, L.27.15mm., a worked pounamu fragment,L.31.82mm., a pounamu toki adze section,L.58.56mm., a pounamu toki adze section, L.47.07mm., a small pounamu fragment, L.20.29mm., two pounamu worked fragments,L.47.5mm.and 47.92mm. 10 items. Y12927, Y12940, Y12941, Y12942, Y12943, Y12944, Y12945, Y12946, Y12947, Y12948.
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8008
A Finely Shaped Pounamu Whao Chisel
of dark green stone with polished surface and formed to be used at both ends. L.79.1mm. Y12929
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of dark green stone with polished surface and formed to be used at both ends. L.79.1mm. Y12929
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8009
A Pounamu Toki Adze Blade Section
of pale green-grey stone, scarf cut on one side, upper segment missing. L.55mm. Y12939
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of pale green-grey stone, scarf cut on one side, upper segment missing. L.55mm. Y12939
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80010
A Bird Bone Spear Point
with single barb, L.58.78mm., together with a bone fragment, L.31.77mm., a translucent pale green stone fragment with evidence of scarf cuts, L.44.69mm., a flecked pounamu fragment, L.29.04mm. 4 items. Y13019, Y13020, Y13017, Y13018.
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with single barb, L.58.78mm., together with a bone fragment, L.31.77mm., a translucent pale green stone fragment with evidence of scarf cuts, L.44.69mm., a flecked pounamu fragment, L.29.04mm. 4 items. Y13019, Y13020, Y13017, Y13018.
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80011
Six Bird Bone Toggles
two with incised decoration to the ends, one damaged, one repaired. The largest 93.9mm length. 6 items. Y12914, Y12915, Y12916, Y12917, Y12918, Y12919.
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two with incised decoration to the ends, one damaged, one repaired. The largest 93.9mm length. 6 items. Y12914, Y12915, Y12916, Y12917, Y12918, Y12919.
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80012
A Small Fragment of a Pounamu Adze
L.49.3mm., together with two Inanga stone chisel points, L.35.4mm., 34.2mm. 3 items. Y12936, Y12934, Y12935.
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L.49.3mm., together with two Inanga stone chisel points, L.35.4mm., 34.2mm. 3 items. Y12936, Y12934, Y12935.
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80013
A Pounamu Whao Chisel
of dark green stone, with finely shaped curved cutting edge; loss at non-working end. Illustd. Brailsford, p104. L.63.8mm. (Y12928) together with a dark green pounamu adze section, L.50.11mm., Y12981 and an argillite chisel fragment. L.40.8mm. Y12979 3 items.
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of dark green stone, with finely shaped curved cutting edge; loss at non-working end. Illustd. Brailsford, p104. L.63.8mm. (Y12928) together with a dark green pounamu adze section, L.50.11mm., Y12981 and an argillite chisel fragment. L.40.8mm. Y12979 3 items.
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80014
Three Ear Pendants
Fashioned from human teeth drilled at their roots for a cord to allow them to be worn as adornment. Lengths, 22.53mm, 20.53mm, 17.6mm. 3 items. Y12920, Y12921, Y12938.
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Fashioned from human teeth drilled at their roots for a cord to allow them to be worn as adornment. Lengths, 22.53mm, 20.53mm, 17.6mm. 3 items. Y12920, Y12921, Y12938.
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80015
Three Bird Bone Needles
together with two picks of bird bone, all used in textile work, comprising a picker with point intact, L.82.3mm, a picker with damaged point, L.52.4mm, a curved cloak pin or needle, L.36.4mm, a needle with missing point, L.43.3mm, a small needle, intact with point and drilled hole, L. 25.7mm. 5 items. Y12890, Y12925, Y12922, Y12923, Y12924.
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together with two picks of bird bone, all used in textile work, comprising a picker with point intact, L.82.3mm, a picker with damaged point, L.52.4mm, a curved cloak pin or needle, L.36.4mm, a needle with missing point, L.43.3mm, a small needle, intact with point and drilled hole, L. 25.7mm. 5 items. Y12890, Y12925, Y12922, Y12923, Y12924.
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80016
A Pounamu Adze of Kawa Kawa Stone
finely polished, the upper edge shows pecking. L. 72.15mm. (Y12980)
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finely polished, the upper edge shows pecking. L. 72.15mm. (Y12980)
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80017
A Hei Amulet of Pounamu
of free form translucent bright green stone. L.41.82mm. (Y13023)
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of free form translucent bright green stone. L.41.82mm. (Y13023)
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80018
A Pounamu Adze
of mottled green stone with lighter 'feathers.' Fine cutting edge and pointed at opposite end. L.66.9mm. Y12926
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of mottled green stone with lighter 'feathers.' Fine cutting edge and pointed at opposite end. L.66.9mm. Y12926
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80019
A Fine Small Pounamu Adze Pendant
of translucent bright green stone; drilled and with a fine cutting edge. L.39.59mm Y13021
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of translucent bright green stone; drilled and with a fine cutting edge. L.39.59mm Y13021
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80020
Two Pounamu Adzes
one of pale green Inanga stone with translucent cutting edge, L.67.7mm. The other smaller with damaged end. L.55.85mm. 2 items. Y12907 ,Y12908
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one of pale green Inanga stone with translucent cutting edge, L.67.7mm. The other smaller with damaged end. L.55.85mm. 2 items. Y12907 ,Y12908
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80021
A Tangiwai Curved Pendant
of pale green translucent stone, repaired fracture at pointed end. L.71.84mm. Y13022 together with a pounamu adze fragment. 2 items. L.50.7mm Y12931
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of pale green translucent stone, repaired fracture at pointed end. L.71.84mm. Y13022 together with a pounamu adze fragment. 2 items. L.50.7mm Y12931
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80022
A Small Highly Polished Adze
of dark grey-green stone, with fine cutting blade. L.50.2mm. Y12905 together with a small light green pounamu adze damaged to all sides. L.52mm. Y12913 2 items.
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of dark grey-green stone, with fine cutting blade. L.50.2mm. Y12905 together with a small light green pounamu adze damaged to all sides. L.52mm. Y12913 2 items.
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