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Carved and engraved wood Dimensions: Length 45cm, width 15.7cm, height 10.5cm Presumed period:1st half of 19th century Maori population New Zealand Provenances: Former private collection, Switzerland Sotheby’s Parke Bernet, London June 25, 1984 (lot 85) Collection Christine Valluet, Paris.
Galerie Valluet-Ferrandin Collection Pierre Lallier (1946-2021), Paris Galerie Franck Marcelin, Eguilles Collection Jean Claude Mocellin, Nice
The delicacy of this oblong waka huia box’s carved decoration testifies to the care Maori artists put into creations of great symbolic value.
Intended to preserve the nephrite ornaments and precious feathers of the huia bird that adorned the headdresses of the great Maori chiefs, it is carved with tiki heads at the ends to protect its contents.
The elaborate lid features two full-length tiki with oversized heads, hands on stomachs, tongues out, a sign of power.
They are linked by a line of carved curves, hollowed out in the middle.
The lid-bottle assembly is richly decorated with curved incisions.
A privilege of high-ranking individuals, these boxes were hung from the ridge of the chief’s house, hence the beautiful, deep, dark red-brown patina on the protruding parts. Price: please contact us
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