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Fine tokotoko c1870, by Jacob William Heberley (1849-1906) of…
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Description:
Fine tokotoko c1870, by Jacob William Heberley (1849-1906) of Te Ati AWA Wellington descent carved with highly stylised, tattooed male and female figures standing in full relief and surmounting a manaia head with bulbous tongue and numerous teeth above incised kowhaiwhai design. The upper male figure with naturalistic tattooed head and shell-inlaid eyes extends into a curved handle decorated with conforming kowhaiwhai and terminating in a stylised manaia with paua-shell eyes. The surface decoration of this very-accomplished carving is extremely intricate and finely finished; its sophisticated rauponga and pakati notches illustrate Jacob's sureness of line and deftness of chisel cuts, having lived some of his early life in Rotorua, he was one of an elite group of late-19th-century master carvers which included Anaha Te Rahui and Patoromu Tamatea; his earliest work even predated that of another, Tene Waitere. These influential carvers facilitated the early transition of their indigenous tribal Art to modern Maori Art as we know it today. As European ways merged with the tribal world, Heberley's work met the needs of both cultures; much of it was commissioned by the New Zealand Government for gifts for visiting royalty. His work was well known to European dignitaries such as Sir Walter Buller, Alexander Turnbull, Captain Gilbert Mair and Lord Ranfurly, and also accepted by many prominent Maori among tribal groups such as ngati Kahungunu, ngati Toa, Te Ati AWA and even Tuhoe. kumete, waka huia and tokotoko were created for symbolic or ceremonial purposes in a new European-dominated Art market where Maori were minor participants within dominant pakeha culture. Jacob Heberley played a major role in the acceptance of contemporary Maori carving as a powerful expression of New Zealand national identity., a similar tokotoko was commissioned by Richard John Seddon for presentation to King Edward at his Coronation in 1902; it is now held in the Royal collection. Heberley's works are represented in major ethnographical museums in Australasia, Europe and Usa. Note: source references authored by Roger Neich, including records of the Auckland Institute and Museum. Length 86.6 cm. Width 12 cm.
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Category:
Unclassified