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PROPERTY FROM AN IMPORTANT AMERICAN COLLECTION
Lot 28
Fine and Rare Maori Hand Club, New Zealand
21 November – 5 December 2024, 12:00 PST
Online, Los AngelesUS$25,000 - US$35,000
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Fine and Rare Maori Hand Club, New Zealand
wahaika rākau
Wood
Length 12 1/2in (31.8cm)
Provenance
Gerard Wahl Boyer Collection, Paris
Paul Renaud Auctions, Paris, 1982
Galerie Patrick Mestdagh, Brussels
Mark and Carolyn Blackburn Collection, Honolulu, Hawaii
Bonhams, San Francisco, 5 May 2015, Lot 121
Private Collection, United States
Literature
Kaeppler, Adrienne, Polynesia: The Mark and Carolyn Blackburn Collection of Polynesian Art, University of Hawa'i' Press, Honolulu, 2010, fig. 494
Finely stone carved in classic form in diminutive proportions with a tiki face on the butt of the handle and an exquisitely carved tiki figure with arching back and other curvilinear designs on the edge near the top of the handle, pierced through for attachment of cordage; fine shiny reddish and dark-brown patina with wear and contoured shape of the blade indicative of significant age from most likely from the 18th century or earlier.
According to Roger Neich (personal communication with Blackburn, June 1, 2009), "It is certainly very very old and has to be eighteenth century - all the signs of great age are there. With this age, I suppose North Auckland is more probably (sic) simply since this was the main area where the early Europeans were mostly. It is certainly a beauty."
According to Charles Mack (Wardwell 1994, p. 218), 'This form of short club with the broad tongue-shaped blade is unique to New Zealand. Its name, wahaika, is literally translated as "fish mouth", a reference to the shape of the blade. Such clubs were used for combat and in dances, during which they were brandished in mock battles. In battle, they were employed in thrusting and jabbing motions, the end, not the sides, being the part that inflicted damage. They were also important elements of chiefly regalia that were carried in the belt when not held in the hand. Most have a human head carved below the handle [as in the present work] and a small reclining figure just above the handle on the inside of the blade [as in the present work]. Both of these figures represent mythological ancestors.' (Simmons 1984, p. 188, no. 45). The hole at the base was for attachment of flax suspension cord that was looped around the wrist.
"Several wahaika exist today that were collected in the 18th century by Captain Cook (see Kaeppler, Adrienne L., Artificial Curiosities, Bishop Museum Press, Hawaii, 1978, figs. 364-365). It is of particular interest that none of the known 18th century wahaika (unlike kotiate) have sinuses cut into their blades. Apparently (wahaika) without sinuses are older in style. Likely, some. . .with small, non-filigree recumbent figures [as in the work presented here] are of 18th century origin." (Mack, Charles W., Polynesian Art at Auction, 1965-1980, Mack-Nasser, Northboro, MA, 1982, p. 158)
Wood
Length 12 1/2in (31.8cm)
Provenance
Gerard Wahl Boyer Collection, Paris
Paul Renaud Auctions, Paris, 1982
Galerie Patrick Mestdagh, Brussels
Mark and Carolyn Blackburn Collection, Honolulu, Hawaii
Bonhams, San Francisco, 5 May 2015, Lot 121
Private Collection, United States
Literature
Kaeppler, Adrienne, Polynesia: The Mark and Carolyn Blackburn Collection of Polynesian Art, University of Hawa'i' Press, Honolulu, 2010, fig. 494
Finely stone carved in classic form in diminutive proportions with a tiki face on the butt of the handle and an exquisitely carved tiki figure with arching back and other curvilinear designs on the edge near the top of the handle, pierced through for attachment of cordage; fine shiny reddish and dark-brown patina with wear and contoured shape of the blade indicative of significant age from most likely from the 18th century or earlier.
According to Roger Neich (personal communication with Blackburn, June 1, 2009), "It is certainly very very old and has to be eighteenth century - all the signs of great age are there. With this age, I suppose North Auckland is more probably (sic) simply since this was the main area where the early Europeans were mostly. It is certainly a beauty."
According to Charles Mack (Wardwell 1994, p. 218), 'This form of short club with the broad tongue-shaped blade is unique to New Zealand. Its name, wahaika, is literally translated as "fish mouth", a reference to the shape of the blade. Such clubs were used for combat and in dances, during which they were brandished in mock battles. In battle, they were employed in thrusting and jabbing motions, the end, not the sides, being the part that inflicted damage. They were also important elements of chiefly regalia that were carried in the belt when not held in the hand. Most have a human head carved below the handle [as in the present work] and a small reclining figure just above the handle on the inside of the blade [as in the present work]. Both of these figures represent mythological ancestors.' (Simmons 1984, p. 188, no. 45). The hole at the base was for attachment of flax suspension cord that was looped around the wrist.
"Several wahaika exist today that were collected in the 18th century by Captain Cook (see Kaeppler, Adrienne L., Artificial Curiosities, Bishop Museum Press, Hawaii, 1978, figs. 364-365). It is of particular interest that none of the known 18th century wahaika (unlike kotiate) have sinuses cut into their blades. Apparently (wahaika) without sinuses are older in style. Likely, some. . .with small, non-filigree recumbent figures [as in the work presented here] are of 18th century origin." (Mack, Charles W., Polynesian Art at Auction, 1965-1980, Mack-Nasser, Northboro, MA, 1982, p. 158)
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