Full details of each lot are displayed, except the lot number, estimate and price. You must be a subscriber to view lot numbers, estimates and prices.

Click here to view registration and subscription levels

The Kenneth Webster Collection Of Tribal Art — Dunbar Sloane Ltd.

Auction House:Dunbar Sloane Ltd.Number of lots recorded:226
Sale Title:The Kenneth Webster Collection Of Tribal ArtLots with images:60
Auction Location:AucklandPrices available:198
Date:14-Sep-2010
***
18th century large Maori greenstone adze unfinished, incomplete with stone carved grooves on both sides. Length 32 cm
***
***
***
Important 18th century pre-European Maori dark greenstone mere, of great age and patina. Top butt worn, good patina and old hour glass hole, stone carved. Length 36.5 cm
***
***
***
A rare and important 18th century pre-European Maori wooden tekoteko Gable ornament. Stone carved, with a tiki face at the bottom, one finger is missing to the mouth and old wooden grain damage left hand side with some traces of a creamy waxy residue. Length 108 cm
***
***
***
18th/19th century Contact Period Maori Greenstone Ear Pendant (Kapeu). Lovely light green colour in 'hockey stick' shape with hour glass hole. Length 8.5 cm
***
***
N/A
***
Late 18th century Maori Greenstone Ear Pendant (Kuru). Light green colour, rounded form with hour glass hole. Length 7 cm
***
***
N/A
***
18th/19th century Maori Greenstone Adze. Sharp edge with a tiny chip and some flaking. Length 14.5 cm
***
***
N/A
***
19th century Maori Greenstone Adze. Good soft green colour, stone carved, grooves down one side with perfect sharp cutting edge. Overall in good condition. Inscribed on label 'Ancient Stone Axe'. Length 10.5 cm
***
***
N/A
***
19th century Maori greenstone pendant Unfinished. Beginnings of suspension hole, good quality pounamu. Length 14 cm. (Webster No. 26)
***
***
***
A rare late 18th century Captain Cook period fish hook (Matau). Wooden shank limb with wonderful carved tiki face, also carved snood knob and bait cleat, bone point with serrations. Lashed snood and line. Similar fish hooks are in the British Museum. Length 14 cm (not including line)
***
***
***
A Rare Contact Period Fish Hook (Matau). Beautifully carved full bodied and prolonged shank limb with bone point with serrations. Lashed snood and line. Width 12 cm
***
***
N/A
***
Early 19th century Maori wooden carved tiki face. Beautifully stone carved partial wooden tip. Together with another piece of broken wood. Tiki face length 9 cm
***
***
***
Captain Cook period Maori wooden waka huia box with huia feather. A superb specimen of Maori carving of rare large oblong shape with lid. A similar waka huia box is in the British Museum. This waka huia feather box also contains one rare huia bird feather. Length 56 cm. Width 16 cm.
***
***
***
Extremely Rare Early Contact Period Maori Fishing Sinker. Terracotta colour stone with rope groove and rope attached both ends. Length 18 cm including rope
***
***
N/A
***
A Rare Early 19th century Maori Oval Whalestooth Sinker. Egg shape with groove for twine. Length 7 cm
***
***
N/A
***
19th century Contact Period Maori Trolling Fish Hook (Pa Kahawai). Wooden shank, paua shell laminate and barbed bone hook. Lashed snood and line. Length 10 cm (not including line)
***
***
N/A
***
Early 19th century Contact Period Maori Trolling Fish Hook (Pa Kahawai). Wooden shank, paua shell laminate and barbed metal hook. Lashed snood and line. Length 11 cm (not including line)
***
***
N/A
***
Contact Period Maori Trolling Fish Hook (Pa Kahawai). Wooden shank, paua laminate and barbed bone hook. Lashed snood and line. Length 9 cm (not including line)
***
***
N/A
***
Contact Period Maori Greenstone Hei Tiki. Beautifully stone carved Kawakawa type, old hour glass suspension hole to back of head, good spinnach green colour. Old break, missing bottom legs. Head to right, hands on thighs. Length 9 cm
***
***
***
Contact period 19th century Maori greenstone hei tiki. Stone carved head to left shoulder, squat form. Eye drilled through. This tiki would have been worn side-on originally. Length 5.5 cm
***
***
***
Contact Period Maori Greenstone Hei Tiki. Incomplete with stone carved grooves indicating the segregation of the thighs. Old hour glass suspension hole, probably damaged while being carved and then discarded. Length 7.5 cm
***
***
N/A
***
Pre-European 18th century Maori whalebone comb (Heru Iwi). A very rare comb with a stone carved human figure (marakihau) on top of four teeth, the figure has some carving missing. Length 12 cm
***
***
***
Late pre-European 18th century Maori wooden short club (wahaika). Carved human figure (marakihau) on incurve and a carved head to the butt. Round suspension hole, excellent patina to handle. Length 42 cm
***
***
***
19th century Maori wooden small comb (Heru Mapara). Extremeley rare, made of separate wooden teeth lashed together with flax fibre. Length 11 cm.
***
***
***
Contact Period c.1840 Tattooing Chisel, steel tip, wooden handle. Length 12 cm
***
***
N/A
***
Extremely rare historical contact period Maori wooden taiaha (fighting staff). This fine quality piece has original Maori dog hair tassels and native bird feathers around the throat. It also has a red army cloth which family believed May have come from James Carter's military uniform. Provenance: James Carter was born in 1805 at Preston, England. He enlisted in the 60th Regiment at the age of 16. His trade was a weaver. He served seven years and 279 days with the army in India. He was discharged in 1828…
***
***
***
Contact Period Maori Hair or Ear Ornament. Comprising small Huia feather, a carved tooth in the form of a god figure, a paua shell disc and flax twine. Rare, first time to the market. Length 8.5 cm
***
***
N/A
***
Three Contact Period Maori Mako Shark Teeth Ear Ornaments. One has red sealing wax at the root level. Length 4 cm, 4 cm, 3.5 cm. One tooth inscribed No. 47812 and 156, one tooth inscribed No. 77
***
***
N/A
***
Early Contact Period Bone Spear Head and Fish Hooks, in sealed small glass bottle. Approx six items. Length 13 cm of the bottle
***
***
N/A
***
Contact Period Maori Greenstone Adze, with good cutting edge. Length 6.5 cm
***
***
N/A
***
Contact Period Maori Greenstone Scrapper. Length 6 cm, width 4.5 cm
***
***
N/A
***
Partial Contact Period Maori Greenstone Small Adze Length 5 cm
***
***
N/A
***
Early Contact Period Maori Whalebone Cloak Pin (Rei Puta). Length 18 cm
***
***
N/A
***
Contact period Maori wooden club (kotiate). Fiddle shape with good patina, stone carved human head motif with paua shell eyes on butt. Round handle and good weight, inscribed, 'From Hawkes Bay'. Length 32 cm
***
***
***
Captain Cook period or contact period rare Maori Albatross hook. Extremeley rare, highly carved on wooden shank with highly important two Manaia motifs with serrated paua shell eyes. Bone serrated point lashed to shank with flax. No line attached. Ref, '(after Hamilton 46a, fig. 31)', the Coming of the Maori by Sir Peter Buck, page 98. Length 11 cm
***
***
***
Contact Period Maori Greenstone Ear Pendant (Kapeu). Light green colour in 'hockey stick' shape, hour glass suspension hole. Length 11.5 cm
***
***
N/A
***
Contact Period Maori Greenstone Ear Pendant (Kuru) with hour glass suspension hole. Length 5 cm
***
***
N/A
***
Contact Period Maori Greenstone Ear Pendant (Kuru) with hour glass suspension hole. Length 5.2 cm
***
***
N/A
***
Contact Period Maori Greenstone Ear Pendant (Kuru) with hour glass suspension hole. Length 5 cm
***
***
N/A
***
Contact Period Maori Greenstone Chisel (Whao) with hour glass suspension hole. Length 4.5 cm
***
***
N/A
***
Contact Period Maori Greenstone Ear Pendant (Kuru) unfinished. Beginnings of suspension hole. Length 3.5 cm
***
***
N/A
***
Early 19th century Contact Period Maori Greenstone Small Chisel (Whao). Good edge. Length 3 cm
***
***
N/A
***
Early 19th century Contact Period Maori Greenstone Small Chisel (Whao). Sharp edge. Length 3.5 cm
***
***
N/A
***
Contact Period Maori Greenstone Small Chisel (Whao). Light golden colour, sharp edge. Length 3.5 cm
***
***
N/A
***
Rare 18th century Captain Cook period Maori small wooden war canoe prow (tauihu). Stone carved from one piece of wood, head raised, arms back and two spirals (Pitau) between figure and splash board mounted with figure. On the base of the spirals is another tiki face
***
***
***
Late 19th century rare Maori feather kete Whakairo bag. Woven from harakeke and worked on both sides with a panelled design of white, green, black, orange and brown feathers. Label inside stating, 'Featherwork from New Zealand ', there is also a card inside stating the origins of the feathers and a calling card for 'Devonshire house, Rotorua' from the early 20th century This kete was discovered in England. Height 21 cm. Width 19 cm
***
***
***
19th century Maori Kiwi Feather Kete Bag, with flax line and tassles. Long light brown Kiwi feathers in excellent condition. Width 18 cm, Height 14 cm
***
***
***
19th century Maori kiwi feather kete bag. Good dark coloured feathers, beautifully made interior. Width 20 cm. Height 15 cm
***
***
***
Early 19th century Huia Bird Feather. Feathers were stuck into the top knot by their quills, the tail feathers of the huia being regarded as the most valuable. They were kept in Waka Huia treasure boxes. Length 20 cm
***
***
N/A
***
Contact Period Maori Shark Hook. Metal U shaped point lashed with flax fibre snood and line. Width 7 cm of point
***
***
N/A
***
Contact Period Maori Trolling Fish Hook (Pa Kahawai). Used for catching Kahahwai. Wooden shank, paua shell laminate, inner and outer barbed bone hook. Lashed snood, no line. Length 10 cm.
***
***
N/A
***
Contact Period Maori Trolling Fish Hook (Pa Kahawai). Wooden shank, paua shell laminate, inner barbed bone point. Lashed snood with line that has broken off. Length 10 cm excluding line
***
***
N/A
***
Contact Period Maori Shark Hook. Metal U shaped point lashed with flax fibre snood and line. Width 6 cm of point
***
***
N/A
***
A Rare Contact Period Maori Fishing Hook and Line. One piece bone hook (Murihiku) with inturned point. Bone either Moa or Human, bait string (Pakaikai) still attached. Lashed snood and line attached to wooden stick with notch on one end. Length 14 cm of stick, Length 4 cm of hook
***
***
N/A
***
Contact Period Maori Composite Shark Hook. Wooden prolonged shank limb with serrated bone point lashed at end. Lashed snood, no line. Length 14 cm
***
***
N/A
***
A Rare Contact Period Maori Trolling Fish Hook (Pa Kakawai). This hook has no wooden shank, and is therefore an older Pa Kakawai as later Maori figured out that Paua shell alone was too thin to form strong shanks that could cope with the strain. Bone point, lashed snood and line. Length 7 cm
***
***
N/A
***
Early Contact Period Maori Bone Trolling Hook. Most likely Moa bone, with a carved spiral knob eye on one side of the head. Some snood line intact. Small hole in barbed point where a colourful feather could be inserted. Ref, ‘After Beasley (10, pl. 11)’*, Length 8 cm. *The Coming of the Maori by Sir Peter Buck pg. 224
***
***
N/A
***
Contact Period Maori Composite Shark Hook. Wooden prolonged shank limb with bone point. Bone point has inner and outer serrated barbs. Lashed snood and line. Length 10 cm excluding line
***
***
N/A
***
Contact Period Large Maori Trolling Fish Hook (Pa Kahawai). Wooden shank, paua shell laminate, inner barbed bone point. Lashed snood and line. Length 12 cm excluding line
***
***
N/A
***
Rare and Unique Contact Period Maori Trolling Fish Hook (Pa Kahawai). This hook has no wooden shank, and is therefore an older Pa Kakawai as later Maori figured out that Paua shell alone was too thin to form strong shanks that could cope with the strain. Uncommon paua shell point, one tiny feather fragment in lashed snood point. Lashed snood and line. Originally Beasley collection No. 450
***
***
N/A
***
Contact Period Maori Trolling Fish Hook (Pa Kahawai). Wooden shank, paua shell laminate held in the middle by flax fibre, barbed bone point. Lashed snood, no line. Length 8.5 cm
***
***
N/A
***
A Rare and Unique Contact Period Maori Trolling Fish Hook (Pa Kahawai). Serrated paua shell shank with very sharp bone point - could be a bird beak. Some feather fragments in lashed snood point. Lashed snood and line. Length 8 cm
***
***
N/A
***
Contact Period Maori Trolling Fish Hook (Pa Kahawai). Wooden shank, paua shell laminate, inner barbed bone point. Lashed snood and line. Length 11 cm
***
***
N/A
***
Maori Early 19th century Shark Hook. Metal 'U' shaped point with flax fibre snood and line. Length 8 cm, width 8 cm excluding line
***
***
N/A
***
Contact Period Maori Composite Fish Hook. Wood shank limb with four barbed bone point. Lashed snood and line. Length 6.5 cm
***
***
N/A
***
Maori Bone Fishing Items Comprising: A flat bone shank for a trolling hook in the making, possibly pre-European as Moa bone, Length 8.5 cm; a bone serrated point, Length 7 cm; a bone fragment with an hour glass hole unfinished, Length 3 cm
***
***
N/A
***
Contact Period Maori Bone Fishing Pieces, comprising: A bone shank from a composite fising hook with shank knob, Length 6 cm; and a bone point broken off from a fishing hook, Length 4 cm
***
***
N/A
***
A superb quality contact period late 18th century or early 19th century greenstone tiki, the greenstone colour is the most sought after, 'Pale green inanga' prized by the Maori chiefs for personal use. It has red wax eyes usually an addition at a later date when early white settlers brought sealing wax from Europe to secure envelopes, the vendors grandfather had no glue to fix a break on the lower legs so had a solid 9ct. gold cast made for the reverse. Length 10 cm
***
***
***
Early Contact Period Maori Bone Fishing Items, comprising: A one piece subcircular bone hook, width 2 cm; a 'U' shaped one piece shell hook (the barb broken), snood attached, Length 4 cm; a bone barbed point from a hook, Length 2.5 cm; a bone barbed point from a trolling hook, Length 5 cm
***
***
N/A
***
Early Contact Period Maori Bone and Flax Fishing items, comprising: A one piece 'U' shaped bone hook with bait string (Papaikai) still attached, lashed snood and line, Length 2.5 cm excluding line; a bone point, Length 4 cm; a barbed bone point with lashing grooves, Length 3.5 cm; a two-ply flax fishing line
***
***
N/A
***
18th century part of an ancient whale bone hand club (Patu Pararoa). It has probably been buried in a swamp or submerged at sea. This piece is the blade end with four holes drilled at a later stage, having probably been adapted for another use. If complete would have been an impressive size club. Length 16 cm. Width 12 cm
***
***
***
19th century Maori woven flax cloak, with tassels and black and white feather borders, salmon colour woven fringe at bottom. Protected from the elements as displayed in glass frame. Height 79. Width 108 cm
***
***
***
Early 20th century Maori kumete (food bowl), with tattooed stylised Maori faces as lifting handles. Given by the Te Arawa tribe to the native land court judge, Judge Holland 03/09/1932. Carved in spirals, criss-cross decoration. Has a sterling silver plaque inscribed, 'Ne Tohu Aroha Kia, Judge Holland, Na nga Hapu o te Arawa, 3-9-32'. Height 25 cm. Length 53 cm
***
***
***
Early Contact Period c.1790s Superbly Carved Oval Waka Huia Lidded Box. With spiral carving, suspension point carved with two giant tiki faces each end with Paua Shell eyes (except one eye missing). Male and female tiki figures carved on the underside in sexual connection, with two paua shell insets on male figure. The lid has a raised serpentine-shaped carved handle. Hairline split one end with staple inside and a tiny patch. Length 43 cm, width 16 cm
***
***
***
Late 19th century Maori wooden God stick (tiki-Wananga), these peg like sticks were thrust into the ground in the front of a priest (tohunga) to serve as vehicles for the spirits of the gods, these god sticks were tools of the tohunga who bound them in cords or dressed them in feathers, they were not worshipped but were considered as the material vehicle of the god who spoke through the priests. Paua eyes, damage to feet. Length 77 cm
***
***
***
Pre-European Maori Greenstone Adze. Probably used for canoe hafting.Traces of a cutting grove along one side. Nice rare pale colour that is prized by Maori chiefs. Length 32 cm
***
***
***
A Late 19th century Maori Large Food Bowl (kumete) of elliptical form. Carved all over with a central ridge consisting of two stylised anthropomorphic figures separated by a central loop, the eyes of each figure inlaid with paua shells. Each side of the cover carved with a large tiki head with inlaid paua shell eyes and nose, within carved curvilinear pattern. The base with figureheads at each end and tiki style heads inlaid with paua shell eyes on each side. kumete's would be used for the purpose of…
***
***
***
Contact period 1830s rare Maori bird leg ring (Kaka Poria). Decorative and probably made from marine bone. Used for captive parrots. Length 5 cm. Width 3.5 cm
***
***
***
Pre-European Maori Greenstone Tiki. Right facing, original suspension hole having worn through, second suspension hole made; water worn then reworked on abdomen; thin cross section. (C. Captain Cook Period 1780s). Length 9 cm, width 4.5 cm
***
***
***
Two Early 19th century Maori Greenstone Small Adzes. Length 6.5 cm, Length 5.5 cm
***
***
N/A
***
Four Contact Period Maori Obsidian Scrapers. Used on flax or for scaling fish. Three originally from the Edward Armytage collection. No. 47644, Length 7 cm. No. 47692, Length 5 cm. No. 86, Length 5 cm. No number, Length 3 cm
***
***
N/A
***
Four Contact Period Pieces of Greenstone. Two are small chisels, one is originally from the Edward Armytage collection, the other has Webster No. 762. One piece could be the end of an ear pendant. Length 4 cm, 3 cm, 2 cm, 2 cm
***
***
N/A
***
An 18th century Captain Cook Period Greenstone Chisel, with hour glass shaped holes. Some craftsmen wore their chisel as an ear pendant as a safe way to keep this tool. Edward Armytage collection No. 48012. Length 6 cm
***
***
N/A
***
An old contact period Beautifully carved wooden canoe prow. On a base with a tiki figure at base and a tiki face near the top. Spiral carvings all over. Some spirals damaged. Height 39 cm. Width 110 cm
***
***
***
Contact Period Maori Long Greenstone Chisel/Pendant. Originally from Edward Armytage collection. Length 6.8 cm
***
***
N/A
***
19th century Rare and Important Boxed Airtu Ahwito. A fungus considered sacred and used as an indelible dye in tattooing. Burnt to a cinder and mixed with dog's fat and soot. What ever remained after each use was carefully preserved and handed down from father to son. Length 8.5 cm
***
***
N/A
***
An Early 19th century Huia Bird Feather. Feathers were stuck into the topknot by their quills; the tail feathers of the Huia were regarded as the most valuable and were kept in Waka Huia treasure boxes. The Huia bird is now extinct. Length 20 cm
***
***
N/A
***
A rare Captain Cook period large Maori greywake stone adze, with rare serrated edges on four corners, running along the length of the adze. Blueish/grey colour with a razor sharp edge. Length 35 cm
***
***
***
A rare early contact period small Maori stone patu. Possibly used by a chief's Son in the Art of warfare. Has a pre-European hour glass hole. In excellent condition apart from a tiny nibble on the side. Length 21.5 cm
***
***
***
An impressive late 18th century large Maori stone adze. Used in the process of war canoe making or tree felling, has a good cutting edge. Length 29.5 cm
***
***
***
A Contact Period Maori Flax Woven Cloak, with small red and black wool border added later. Has a beautiful golden hue. Cloak shows small signs of wear and has water marks. Overall in good condition. Width 131 cm, Height 120 cm
***
***
***
A Contact Period Obsidian Scraper. Would have been used for scraping flax or scaling fish. Width 4.5 cm. Originally from the Edward Armytage collection No. 47636
***
***
N/A
***
A superb and important Maori wooden panel (Pare), contact period 19th century, depicting three figures with tongues protruding and arms raised. Haliotis serrated shell inlaid eyes and medallions. South Sea tattoo decoration with mania figure at bottom and bird-like heads at each end. Note: has been repaired over the years, visible on rear. Height 49 cm. Length 135 cm
***
***
***
A Contact Period Maori Greenstone Tiki c.1780-1820, head only. Would have been a very large tiki. Old hour glass holes at back of head, nice thick body. Length 10 cm, width 7 cm
***
***
***
Contact period 18th century Maori greenstone peka peka. Pale green colour, rare elongated shape with manaia bird-like head up top. Length 6 cm
***
***
***
Maori greenstone mere c.1890s of good shape and dark green colour. Length 36 cm
***
***
***
Superb Quality Karui Gum Sculpture of Maori Chief, holding a green coloured mere on a wooden base. The chief has a tattooed face and is wearing a feather cloak. Height 16 cm (not including base). (Y No. to be asseesed)
***
***
***
Late 19th century Maori Tobacco Box. Carved on five sides, inset with paua. Length 13 cm, width 9.5 cm. Y No. to be assessed
***
***
***
Late 19th century Maori Tokotoko. Carved in spiral form the entire length. Length 86 cm
***
***
N/A
***
A 19th century Maori Carved Riding Crop with tekoteko type figure carved to grip. Length 91 cm
***
***
N/A
***
An Early 20th century Maori Wahaika. Length 47 cm
***
***
N/A