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Auction House:Webb'sNumber of lots recorded:176
Sale Title:Oceanic & Indigenous ArtefactsLots with images:176
Auction Location:AucklandPrices available:126
Date:17-May-2021
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A Baule mask, Ivory Coast. Associated with the ancestor cult. Carved from wood a single piece of wood, this make is a small oval shape. It depicts a female face with a textured coiffure. The eyes are shaped like almonds, the nose is thin and long, and the lips are pursed. The rim of the mask has six holes for fastenings. Height 70 cm, width 13 cm, depth 7 cm
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A Kamoro Kaware festival mask, Papua New Guinea. The Kaware festival in which is mask is worn, celebrates new life after death. Made in the late 20th century. Made from a bark cloth base and rattan weaving, plant fibre fringing, and plumage of cassowary and chicken. Feathers. Height 140 cm, width 100 cm
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A Lega mask, Democratic Republic of Congo. Used in initiation ceremonies for the Bwami society. The Bwami society is a centuries old voluntary society which promotes peace among the Lega who have no centralised state or regional authoritative roles. Lega masks are not often worn on the face, they are adorned on different parts of the body or hung for display. Carved from wood and coloured with white pigment. The mask is a small circular shape with almond shaped eyes. The nose is a raised ridge that runs…
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A kete mask, Democratic Republic of Congo. The mask is carved from a single piece of wood. It depicts a face with an exaggerated long jaw line and large protruding eyes with small eye holes. The mask is coloured with red, black, and white pigment. The headdress at the back of the mask is finely woven from raffia and coloured black raffia. Length 56 cm, width 22.5 cm, depth 17 cm
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A Bwa mask, Burkina Faso. Oval face with pierced diamond-shaped mouth, bold geometric motifs repeated in brightly painted designs that enliven the stylized features. Traditionally, when used during social events, such masks embodied nature and ancestor spirits that interact with human beings and influence their lives. At the beginning of the 20th century, they became a source of inspiration for the French avant-garde artists, fascinated by the abstract forms of this Art not trying to imitate the reality…
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A Yoruba mask, Benin, Nigeria. Gelede masks are worn by male Yoruba dancers in honour of female living members of the community and passed female ancestors. The headpiece of the mask is made from wood and is highly pigmented with a red base and detailing in white, blue, black, and yellow. The headpiece sits on a basket woven base resting on the head. The base is covered in woven raffia and has decorations of cowrie shells. Height 57.5 cm, width 28 cm, depth 23 cm
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A headrest, Tanzania. The headrest is c arved from wood and has a dark brown patina. The headrest has a concave rectangular top, four legs and at each end of the headrest is a rhinoceros head. Height 10 cm, width 35 cm, depth 7.6 cm
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A Lega mask, Democratic Republic of Congo. Used in initiation ceremonies in the Bwami society. The Bwami society is a centuries old voluntary society which promotes peace among the Lega who have no centralised state or regional authoritative roles. Lega masks are not often worn on the face, they are adorned on different parts of the body or hung for display. Carved from wood and coloured with white and black pigment. The mask is a small circular shape with almond shaped eyes and small rectangular mouth…
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A Bamileke elephant helmet mask, Cameroun. Representing the elephant spirit, with erect ears, incised ellipse eyes, trunk and tusks curve downward. In animist context, masks would make supernatural beings, such as nature spirits, tangible. Height 62 cm
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A Yaka mask, Democratic Republic of Congo. Used in the Mukanda coming of age ceremony, a ceremony that symbolises the rebirth as a man from a young boy. Young boys spend their initiation period separated from their village and made to go through a series of challenges to test their courage. The face of the mask is carved from wood. The face has oval eyes, a circular open mouth with teeth exposed, and a horn or upturned nose. At the top of the mask is a black fabric hat with yellow and red dots with four…
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A Sikasingo figure, Democratic Republic of Congo. Carved from wood in a smooth dark patina. The figure depicts a standing male with an oval face, a long neck, square shoulders, a short body and bent knees. The figure stands on a small square base. Height 29.5 cm, width 9.5 cm, depth 9.5 cm
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A Kuba mask, Democratic Republic of Congo. Carved from wood, the mask is coloured with black, brown, red, and white pigments. The headdress of the mask in woven raffia. Height 29 cm, width 20.5 cm, depth 18 cm
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A Yoruba figurine, Nigeria. From the Ogboni society. Brass element of staff Edan, mounted on a pedestal. Two figures on top of each other kneeling, the heads covered with a headdress, almond-shaped bulging eyes, flat noses, large mouths, scarifications, necklaces around their necks. This is the emblem of the Ogboni society. Provenance: from the collection of Keith St Cartmail. Height 43 cm
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A Coptic rosary, north Africa. The pendant of the rosary is carved from a polished wood, it depicts Jesus Christ on the cross. On the reverse of the cross is the letters 'I.H.S' inscribed. The pendant sits on a cord of beads. Length 34.7 cm
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A Mossi Biiga doll, Burkina Faso. A Biiga is a fertility doll used to aid Mossi women in conception. When leaving the homes of their fathers to live with their husbands, Mossi women bring their biiga dolls with them. Carved from a single piece of wood, this biiga is tall and thin. It depicts a female figure. The figure stands on a small circular base. Height 34 cm, width 4 cm, depth 7.5 cm
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A Songye fetish figure, Democratic Republic of Congo. Carved from wood, the figure is depicted holding its large stomach and its feet form a circular base. The figure has a single horn to the upper and wears a necklace of red beads and a skirt of red fabric. Height 24.5 cm, width 10 cm, depth 9 cm
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A Lega mask, Democratic Republic of Congo. Lega masks are not often worn on the face, they are adorned on different parts of the body or hung for display. A minimalistic mask carved from wood. The face is a rectangular shape with the widest point at the brow ridge. The eyes are small pierced holes and the nose is a thin peak that runs down the mask's face. Plant fibred emerge out of the square hole mouth, they are knotted at the chin. There are remnants of a white pigment. Height 50 cm, width 16 cm, depth…
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An anthropomorphic stool carving, south America. Carved from a single piece of wood, this stool depicts a figure on all fours. The wood is coloured with red, black, and white with natural pigments and the eyes of the figure are cowrie shells. The top and base are circular disk. Height 357 mm, depth 33.5 cm
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A Kwere trough zither, musical instrument, Tanzania. Known as a 'Inaga' to the Kwere. Carved from wood and coloured with a brown patina, the zither is a long rectangular shape with concave sides. At the top of the handle is a figure. Length 65 cm, width 7.5 cm, depth 5 cm
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A shield, Africa. Carved from wood. An oval form with a small central peojection at the front centre. Coloured with black, grey, yellow, and brown triangular designs. Length 44.5 cm, width 19.5 cm, depth 9 cm
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A Bambara Chi Wara Headcrest, Mali. A Chi Wara represents the spirit that taught the Bambara agricultural practice. The Chi Wara is worn on the head in dance. The dancer also wears a costume made of long raffia strands. Carved from wood, the headdress depicts an antelope. The antelope has strings of beads and cowrie shells falling from its horns. The Chiwara is on a disk shaped headdress covered in a beige textile and ornamented with cowrie shells. Height 48 cm, width 24 cm, depth 116.5 cm
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A Worlley game board, Yacouba tribe, Democratic Republic of Congo. Carved from wood, this games board has a grid of 32 square compartments, at the bottom of the board is one large raised square dish. The top of the board has a carved head. Length 75 cm, width 30 cm
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A Masi beater, Fiji Islands. Quadrangular hardwood beater with tapering handle, three of the beating sides with incised lines, the fourth side uncarved. Fine dark-brown patina with wear indicative of significant use and age. The masi, also called tapa in other regions of Oceania, was made from pieces of inner bark that were soaked, dried and beaten to create a fine and flexible cloth. Women would beat the bark while singing ancestral stories which would load the cloth with ancestral power and prestige,…
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A paddle club 'akau-ta, Tonga. The ' akau-ta was a symbol of rank as well as a weapon. This example differs in its shape, the handle in the form of a quatrefoil section and the head shaped like a paddle. Tongan clubs are renowned for their exquisitely fine decoration and this is another stunning illustration. Provenance: from the collection of Keith St Cartmail. Length 104 cm, width 11.5 cm
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A 20th century Masi, Fiji. A Fijian tapa of geometric patterns with lines, diamonds, and triangles in boarders around a large central panel. Black and brown natural pigments on the natural beige colour of the tapa cloth. Height 244 cm, width 113.5 cm
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A large Masi, Fiji. A large tapa with two panels of contrasting designs, one side heavily designed with black and brown naturalistic designs, the other has rubbing patterns in brown and a central large triangle motif in black and brown. Height 500 cm, width 172.8 cm
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A bowl with mother of pearl inlay, Solomon Islands. Carved from a single piece of wood, this bowl is an oval shape, it sits on a short oval foot, and has handles carved to depict a Bonito fish. The wood has been blackened and decorated with mother of pearl inlay. Height 26 cm, width 66 cm, depth 18.5 cm
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A paddle club, Solomon Islands. Carved from wood, with a leaf-shaped head, with a raised line running down the head. A long cylindrical shaft with finial at the end. The handle is wrapped with red coloured cane. Length 110.5 cm, width 12.5 cm
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A rare Tikopia club, Solomon Islands. Long and slender club finely carved from dense wood, with an elongated leaf-shaped blade and raised medial ridge that extends into a cylindrical shaft, decorated with six raised ribbed bands where the blade and the shaft meet. Honey-brown patina with wear indicative of use and age. Length 140 cm
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A grouping of hook fragments, Polynesia. A pa kahawai curved body with muka binding and line, three mother of pearl lure bodies, and two carved turtle shell barbs. Largest length 11.5 cm
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An exquisite chiefly lure, Tonga. Of rare and large form. Whale bone shank, carved turtle shell barb and pearl shell base bound with natural woven fibre. Length 18 cm
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A contact period pa kahawai fishing hook. Paua shell shank with iron barb, lashed with woven muka fibre. Height 11 cm, width 2 cm
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A pre European waka hoe. This pre-European example of a longer Maori steering paddle, known as a hoe whakahaere. These longer steering paddles, in pre-European times were usually made of kahikatea wood, which withstood the water and was also suitably light and strong. This longer steering paddle shows evidence of lengthy swamp immersion. A notable feature is the notched butt end providing a grip handle, demonstrating it to have been a working paddle. Length 246 cm, width 10 cm.
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A mid/late-19th century waka huia, Maori treasure box. While high-ranking people used treasure boxes to store their prestigious adornments, the waka huia themselves are exquisite works of Art and personal objects that were highly valued, being handed down from one generation to another. A halo of tapu (sacred power) surrounds them because of the ancestral treasures they May have once contained. Since their power, the waka huia would be suspended from the interior rafters of a house to be kept out of reach,…
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A pre European waka hoe. This Maori steering paddle is known commonly as a waka hoe, or a canoe paddle-and is sometimes referred to by Maori as a whakatere. A unique feature of this paddle is the carved manaia butt. Waka hoe of this ilk usually have only a knobbed butt. The waka hoe has the appearance of swamp immersion, with a strongly curved handle with reticulated manaia type butt. Leather strapping to the clade and pins to the grip. Steering paddles were usually employed on at least four points of the…
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A rare late 19th century whakapakoko atua (Godstick). Whakapakoko Atua were driven into the ground in front of a priest (tohunga), often adorned in feathers or bound in cord. The physical embodiment of the spirit of the gods, these were not worshipped but were an instrument used by the tohunga who vocalised the spirit of the god. Height 77 cm, width 9 cm, depth 8.5 cm.
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Hongi Hika's Royal presentation Fowling piece. Maker of the gun. John Twigg (English 1732-1790). Provenance: gifted by King George IV to chief Hongi Hika, 1820. Bequeathed to son-in-law, Hone Hika 1928. Private collection, Melbourne Australia. Gun description. Silver mounted, half-stoked percussion fowler, 16 bore, 36' barrel, stepped lock plate engraved 'Twig'. Hall marled silver furniture by Michael Barnett dated 1782 with acorn finial to trigger guard and engraved butt plate. 'A nineteenth century…
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A rare late 19th century Maori carved kauri figural inkwell. Intricate carved detailing featuring three figures with paua inset eyes on an oval base. One sits on the back of another, holding up the inkwell. The third offers supports from the other side. Original glass inkwell and richly-finished patina. Height 16 cm, width 26 cm, depth 11 cm
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An extremely rare pounamu breastplate adornment. Found in a river inlet in Otago in the 1950s. This archaic breastplate was traditionally carved with countersunk suspension holes and lashing grooves, such a piece would have been worn only by a high-ranking members. The stone is gem quality Southland jade with areas of chatoyancy and no visible inclusions. The carving is so fine that the piece has a clear translucent quality making it one of the finest and rarest examples of a pre-European pounamu anywhere…
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A large and impressive pounamu blank. An exceptional example of pre-European Maori master craftsmanship. An incomplete example, a piece of this superb quality would have been destined to be carved into a tool or weapon for a very high-ranking individual. This piece is of gem quality with chatoyant streaks throughout and an extremely high acoustic resonance. Found by a deer stalker in a small cave in the central North Island c.1950. Length 55.6 cm, width 14 cm
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An impressive Jane Brenkley carved box. The lid features an uncommon design of possum and tuatara forms flanked by Maori masks and organic spiral patterns. The design is carved and painted, with inset paua detailing. Pokerworked and painted cottage scene to the interior lid, with epithet 'May Your heart be ever happy.., Jane Brenkley 1954'. The interior of the box is decorated with decoupage cut-outs of young women on a wallpaper background. Repair to hinge. Height 12 cm, width 53 cm, depth 28 cm
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A Jane Brenkley Maori folk art side table. The rectangular top with highly detailed carving depicting a man, woman and dog in the foreground, and a lake scene in the mid ground. Carved figural central column and stepped base. Signed and dated 1942. Height 58 cm, width 46 cm, depth 30 cm
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A kauri Ditty box from the Shaw, Savill & Co. New Zealand Emigrant ship S.V. Lady Jocelyn 1878. Attractively carved in the round with local flora and fauna and geometric shapes, inscribed to one side lady Jocelyn 1878 with sliding lid. Built by C.J. Mare of Blackwall in 1852 for the general screw S.S. Co.'s East Indies trade, the lady Jocelyn was an auxiliary barque registered at 2138 tonnes. Bought by Shaw, Savill & Co. In 1866, they removed her engines to make space for service as an emigrant ship and…
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A large and impressive waka prow by the late Tamati Edwards. This prow was chisel carved by the late Tamati Edwards who is of Ngapuhi of Northland, New Zealand. The prow is an exact downsized replica of the famous Ngapuhi waka taua named Ngatokimatawhaorua, which was originally carved on the Te Ikaroa peninsula in the Waikare river. The timber for this waka was donated by Kapotai tribe from the Waikare and trees came from the kauri forests of the Ngaiotonga.The original waka is to be viewed at Waitangi and…
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