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Oceanic and African Arts — Webb's

Auction House:Webb'sNumber of lots recorded:455
Sale Title:Oceanic and African ArtsLots with images:405
Auction Location:AucklandPrices available:310
Date:17-Jun-2010
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Rare and superb Fijian war club - Culacula, superbly balanced and made from a single piece of age soaked Vesi (iron wood) the culacula form is highly complex offering subtle concave and convex surfaces throughout the blade, the decorative elements are highly achieved with geometric carving throughout the grip and lower and upper mid section of the work, the head of the club is of a sophisticated design with the centre line tapering off to a thin mid section that then flares as it terminates towards the tip…
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Rare inlaid Fijian Rootstock club, highly achieved vunikau bulibuli or dromu vonotabua with a classic rootstock head with fourteen prestigious ivory inlays leading to a sennit bound shaft with base of handle also offering large star formed ivory inlay. Certainly the work of a master artist. Rich deep mid-brown patina. Mid 19th century. Provenance: private New Zealand collection. Length 108 cm. Width 9 cm.
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Fijian club - Totokia, large example of pineapple form with head binding and some age damage. Rich patina of age. Length 76 cm. Width 16 cm.
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Fijian club, Kiakavo, of well balanced proportion. Orthodox rough incurve at top. Superb light patina. Old Museum label attached.Provenance: Julius Carlebach gallery, New York, 1955. Zanesville Museum of Art, USA, length 90 cm.
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A fine Fijian club - Gata, classic form, well balanced and finely carved detailing throughout handle and continuing into delicate sun / life motif notching throughout the head reflecting chiefly status. Rich superb patina of age. Length 100 cm. Width 15 cm.
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Prestigious Fijian Rootstock club, vunikau, of gigantic chiefly proportions made of traditional Vesi wood. Finely incised handle. Excellent patina reflects good age. 19th century. Length 111 cm.
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Rare Vanuatu club, carved from a single piece of hardwood, the base of the handle is circular which then extends into highly refined 'Hockey stick' form. Dark patina, 19th century. Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu. Length 104 cm.
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A Supurb New Caledonia bird head club, displaying a hooded medial ridge on the face, bulbous domed eyes soft slightly raised handle end, early rich mid-brown patina. Provenance: formerly in the Oldman collection, Otzis collection and Christensen Fund collection cc60032 as dispersed by Sotheby's 1996. Length 82.5 cm. Width 20 cm.
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A Fine Fijian Totokia Club - Pineapple Form, of chiefly proportions and well balanced. Beautiful dark rich patina. Provenance: Private Collection New Zealand. Length 82 cm Width 15 cm.
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Mangaian Toki Ceremonial Adze, square section with heavily abstracted human forms in deep relief. Extremely fine lashings accentuated prestigious nature of the adze. Traditionally the personal belonging of a chief and used to make the first few chops while invoking Tane Mata Ariki, the god of wood workers. Length 97 cm Width 23 cm.
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A New Britain Club, classic mace form with stone head, superb condition with stone, gum and shell inlay. Rich brown patina, Length 126 cm Width 7.6 cm.
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Fine Solomon Island war club, long slender leaf blade in orthodox form. Smoked brown patina. Florida Island style. Length 125 cm.
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Early Vanuatu club, superb early example with binding to handle. Rich old reddish brown patina. Pentecost Island. Early 20th century. Length 110 cm .
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Fine Solomon Island war club, long slender leaf blade in orthodox form. Smoked brown patina. Florida Island style. Length 130 cm.
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Rare New Britain ceremonial axe, the head in the form of a trade axe with carved target motif to blade leading into a long shaft ending with an unusual termination to handle which has a star burst motif. Coloured with black and red pigment. Light brown smoked patina. Wood, gum. Treasury Island, New Britain. Length 114 cm.
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Fine Fijian Gata Club, of small well balanced proportion. Shell or stone tool carving to handle and upper neck. Damage to top flair. Length 72 cm.
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Fijian Ula club, classic throwing type club of fine form. Rich Patina, length 37 cm.
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A Vanuatu club, an early Pentecost Island club. Provenance: Zanesville Museum of Art (USA). Length 97 cm
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Solomon Islands Malaita/ Sulka club, of orthodox form. Rich dark patina. Malaita Island. Provenenace: Previously in a private English collection. Length 97 cm width 7 cm.
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Santa Cruz Island wooden dance Wand, a superb dance club with fine painted decoration light honey coloured patina, used during dance ceremonies called Napa. Length 82 cm.
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