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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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Papua New Guinea Paddle, a superbly carved paddle end in the abstracted form of a crocodile with a light to mid brown patina. Length 43 cm Width 8 cm.
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Rare Baining ceremonial mask, finely constructed of bark cloth depicting ancestral butterfly and duck bill. Height 110 cm. Length 90 cm. Width 40 cm.
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Sepik river crocodile spirit form, Papua New Guinea, carved from single piece of softwood. Strong detail and excellent pigment decorations remaining. Length 80 cm. Width 4 cm.
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Two Bows, Papua New Guinea, 19th century. Length 163 cm. Length 150 cm.
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Papua New Guinea Paddle, with traditional centre crease extending up body of blade then spreading into v form at the shoulder. Shaft is plain. Upper grip of paddle shaft offers finely carved abstract bird form. Provenance: Zanesville Museum of Art, USA. Length 145 cm Width 11 cm.
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Papua New Guinea Carved Ceremonial Vessel, finely carved coconut with butterfly totems. Provenance: Julius Carlebach, New York. Zanesville Museum of Art, USA. width 14.3 cm D12.3 cm.
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Sepik Carvers Adze, a wooden adze handle with steel blade, small figural carving to top. Provenance: Julius Carlebach, New York. Zanesville Museum of Art, USA. Length 35 cm.
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Spear Thrower, Papua New Guinea, bamboo shaft, closed on one end, heavily abstracted wooden carving representing bird spirit affixed by rattan, slightly damaged; the spear thrower Lengthens the lever arm and thus provides a much better drive, while the wooden carving in the middle prevents the spear from slipping off aside. Sepik River. Provenance: Zanesville Museum of Art, USA. Length 85 cm.
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Spear thrower, Papua New Guinea, a split bamboo shaft with wooden carved ornament in form of a stylised bird and end stopper, attached with cane binding blackened varied patina. Sepik river. Length 98 cm .
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Group of Papua New Guinea Arrows, finely crafted hunting arrows of various styles and Lengths. Zanesville Museum of Art, USA.
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Ancestral Figure, Papua New Guinea, of elongated stance and muscular shoulder line. Arms resting comfortably. Carved from fine hardwood. Rich dark patina. Height 29 cm Width 4.3 cm.
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Two Easter Island Spear Heads, flaked obsidian blades. Rapanui Island. Provenence: Ex Private Collection, New York. width 7.5 cm D4.5 cm.
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Large Sepik Canoe Prow, wooden carved prow with abstract crocodilian form to front extending to a raised beaked hook spine ridge and a carved stylized bird from. Weathered gray patina. Similar example in the Basel Museum. Length 124 cm Width 36 cm.
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A Simbain Shield, Papua New Guinea, a carved blackened shield decorated with carved traditional designs. Bismarck Schrader Ranges. Height 106 cm Width 47.5 cm.
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A rare Mengen shield, Papua New Guinea, low-relief decoration representing two stylised faces weathered early patina. Wood and pigment. New Britain Island. Height 128 cm. Width 22 cm.
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A superb Ramu river shield, a stone carved, of flat oval form, and pierced on either side, the front decorated with an abstract motif classic triangular-shaped face at the top between sets of stylised eye motifs. It is rare to find one with some traditional pigments and split cane attached and still intact. Fine and varied encrusted patina overlaid by coloured pigments. Length 115 cm. Width 53 cm.
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Kwoma Pigskin Shield, a prestigious ovoid shaped shield made of wild boar hide cane and wood. Used by younger initiated men. Only the elder warriors are allowed to use the carved wooden shields. Kwoma People, Washkuk Hills, Middle Sepik, Papua New Guinea. Height 140 cm Width 57 cm.
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Rare Solomon Islands War Shield, a rare and fine elliptically shaped fighting shield made of coiled pieces of cane bound with horizontal lashing. A loop handle of cane attached to the reverse side of the shield. Wicker fighting shields of this general type were once utilised in the New Georgia Islands, Santa Isabel, Guadalcanal and Florida Islands. 19th century. Height 83.5 cm Width 26.6 cm.
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An rare April river shield, carved from massive log rather than buttress root, of overall large proportions, the elliptical and convex form with symbolic designs carved in low relief, the central band of sunburst, circle and crescent motifs surrounded by concentric undulating lines with three bands of leaf-like forms framed at the perimeter by circles and triangles. Two vertical flanges carved at the reverse for the insertion of the rattan and braided fibre; softly worn with layers of white, black, yellow…
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Solomon Island shield, a rectangular bark shield encircled with a jagged edge of wood which extend from the backing. Wood fibre bark. Dry used patina. Santa Isabel Island Solomon islands. Length 129 cm width 20 cm.
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A New Britain Shield, composed of three planks joined vertically with strips of rattan. Decoration consists of carved spirals with red and black pigments. Used by the Arawe as a defensive weapon, Coastal South western New Britain. Length 120 cm Width 25 cm.
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A Kukukuku Shield, of ovoid form, with small v-shaped peep-slit at top, two pierced holes at middle for a handle attachment, an overall rich warm black patina. Collected by a petroleum engineer1960's. Length 94.5 cm Width 45 cm.
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A superb Papua New Guinea war canoe prow, a rare and superb example of a large crocodile prow from a traditional war canoe, adorned with a deep, beautifully carved abstract crocodilian form. Wood, shell inlaid eyes. Sepik river region. Length 105 cm. Width 34 cm.
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A Massim, Papua New Guinea canoe Splashboard, with scrolling ornament carved in relief, a band of concentric circles to one side and heart-shaped motifs to the other, two figures carved within pierced section at the top. Massim people, Papua New Guinea. Length 73.5 cm. Width 66 cm.
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Papua New Guinea Abelam male figure, in the form of a standing male figure with elongated face with long nose and lightly carved mouth. Arms gently zigzag to rest on hips and fine incised carved decoration to stomach. All over black, red, white, ochre decoration to head and body. Length 86.5 cm width 11 cm.
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Papua New Guinea Washkuk female figure, Nogwi, a Washkuk female figure (Nogwi) standing with hands resting on hips, oval shaped face with a domed forehead, round eyes and smiling mouth, the face painted with red and white ochre carved designs to chest area and stomach with traces of ochre to collar. Length 126 cm. Width 20 cm.
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Papua New Guinea Nagwit ancestral figure, a Washkuk female figure (Nogwi) standing with hands resting on hips, oval shaped face with a domed forehead, round eyes and smiling mouth, the face painted with red paint and white ochre carved designs to chest area stomach. Length 100 cm. Width 14 cm.
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Heavily sawn giant pounamou slab, a remarkable example of the scale of labour undertaken by the early Maori master craftsmen. Incomplete and representative of phase three of toki Pou Tangata style. Front and back faces are flat and smoothly polished. A medium light pounamu (nephrite). Pre European, classic period. Length 35.8 cm. Width 13.8 cm.
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Heavily sawn giant Pounamu slab, in toki Pou Tangata style. Incomplete with deep saw marks evident on one side also representative of phase three of toki Pou Tangata production. Pre European, classic period. Length 31.2 cm. Width 10.3 cm.
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Large and superb Maori toki, toki of this scale had lineage, ceremonial and technical significant. Embodying gods associated with the ancestral creators of the technical carpentry, the giant toki was used to undertake large societal projects such as the felling of giant kauri and the building of migratory canoes. Large type 1A (duff) with rectangular cross section. Hammer pecked butt with remaining surface smoothed to a fine polish. Cutting edge is slightly chipped otherwise in good condition. Argillite,…
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Large river worn toki, found in the river beds of Nelson, this impressive toki offers an unorthodox kinked neck reminiscent of the early Eastern Polynesian and Hawaiian hafted adze. Appears to have been hammer pecked. Archaic period 14th ' 16th century, black argillite. Length 32 cm. Width 5.7 cm.
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Toki Pounamu, finely finished adze with saw marks evident on both sides. Light nephrite, pre European, classic period. Length 19 cm. Width 3.2 cm.
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Large toki, early form of South Island adze. Hammer pecked argillite of the gray veined type found in the northern Durville district. Length 29.4 cm. Width 6.3 cm.
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Large Pounamu toki Pou Tangata, a superb adze from the Kaikoura district. Conical formed suspension hole indicates this adze would have been used for ceremonial and adornment purposes. Light inanga pounamu. Pre European, classic period. Length 18.9 cm. Width 5 cm.
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Large Toki, in triangular form with pecked butt terminating into small cutting edge designed to maximise power of cutting edge. Grey greywacke. Early form, Length 22 cm Width 4 cm.
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Toki Pou Tangata -A chiefly ceremonial adze, a highly refined example of important nephrite adze that would have indicated the high status of the owner and maker with the dark green nephrite having been shaped into a perfect orthodox form by a master craftsmen. Classic period. 18th -19th century. Length 24 cm. Width 9.5 cm.
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Toki Totoweka Inanga, Museum registered. Very rare blood vein (variegated) nephrite adze with hammer pecked butt. Refined form suggests high status. Early form. Length 16.5 cm. Width 5.5 cm.
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Toki, in triangular form with pecked butt terminating into small cutting edge designed to maximise power of cutting edge. Dark grey greywacke. Early form. Length 22 cm. Width 4.5 cm.
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Toki, rare triangular form with pecked butt terminating into very fine cutting edge designed to maximise power of cutting edge. Lower edge of adze offers unusual convexed surface. Note also the shaped handle at upper end of the adze termination with up kick shape. Light grey greywacke. Early form. Length 27 cm. Width 3.8 cm H54 cm.
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Toki Pounamu, quadrangulated tapering to fine blade, slightly chipped. Dark green nephrite. Classic period. Length 8 cm. Width 6 cm.
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Toki, pecked surface terminating to smooth cutting edge. Stone material shows orange veins through the bottom and lateral facings. Shaped hafting neck apparent. Length 26.5 cm. Width 6.4 cm.
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Toki, quadrangulated tapering to fine blade in good order. Body offers significant curvature suggesting adze was applied to canoe production. Classic period. Length 23.6 cm. Width 5.6 cm.
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Large toki, large quadrangulated form tapering to chipped blade. Note: collector's reference to Clarence river District. Dark greywacke. Early form. Length 21.4 cm. Width 8.6 cm.
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Toki, pecked haft. Smooth faces termination into heavily shaped cutting edge. Greywacke. Classic period. Length 17 cm. Width 5.4 cm.
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Toki, pecked haft. Smooth faces termination into cutting edge with small chip. Note: collector's reference to cape Farewell. Early form. Length 17.5 cm. Width 4.5 cm.
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Toki Pounamu, untanged quadrangulated section. Butt rough. Steep bevelled cutting edge. Dark green streaked nephrite. Classic period. Length 12.2 cm. Width 6.2 cm.
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Toki, pecked haft. Smooth faces termination into cutting softly bevelled cutting edge with fine chips. Dark greywacke. Length 13.8 cm. Width 3.7 cm.
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Large toki fragment, showing signs of sawing. Dark green and red streaked nephrite. Classic period. Length 9 cm. Width 6.6 cm.
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Four toki, quadrangulated sections tapering into various bevelled cutting edge in variable condition. Various examples of argillite, max length 16 cm. Width 7.2 cm.
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Seven toki and fragments, an assortment of stone tools including pre contact examples of small toki and stone flakes, max length 13 cm. Width 5.8 cm.
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Mere Fragment and Three Toki, an assortment of stone tools including pre contact patu fragment and toki. Various examples of greywacke, maxLength 14.5 cm Width 6.2 cm.
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Three toki, one fine black argillite adze with two other grey greywacke examples with the following collector notes: Needles, Onapua Bay, max length 11.8 cm. Width 3 cm.
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Five Toki, an assortment of stone adze fashioned from various examples of greywacke and basalt, max16 cm Width 8.2 cm.
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Four toki, an assortment of stone adze fashioned from various examples of greywacke and basalt, max length 14 cm. Width 5.1 cm.
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Six toki, an assortment of stone adze fashioned from various examples of greywacke, basalt and argillite, max length 11 cm. Width 4 cm.
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Four toki, an assortment of stone adze fashioned from various examples of greywacke and argillite, max length 15 cm. Width 4.8 cm.
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Eight toki, an assortment of stone adze fashioned from various examples of greywacke and argillite, max length 162. Width 7.4 cm.
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Two toki and Putu fragment, an assortment of stone tools including patu fragment and toki. Fashioned from various examples of greywacke and argillite, max length 15 cm. Width 5 cm.
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Three toki, an assortment of stone adze fashioned from various examples of greywacke and argillite, max length 14.5 cm. Width 5 cm.
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Early Maori mortar and pestle, Museum registered. Used create a large variety of natural medicines. Fashioned from a grey stone. Both mortar and pestle show correct wear. Length 11.5 cm. Width 9.7 cm D5.6 cm.
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Toki Pounamu, of quadrangular form terminating with steep bevel. Collector's note: Edgecombe, Clarence. Dark green nephrite. Classic Period, Length 7.2 cm Width 4.8 cm.
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Toki Pounamu, of quadrangular form terminating with steep three angled bevel. Collectors Note: Undecipherable. Dark Green Nephrite. Classic Period, Length 7.8 cm Width 4.9 cm.
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Assorted Toki and Stone Tool Fragments, black stone adze, lime stone adze, cutting blade obsidian flake, black stone adze, lightly fashioned sinker. Collector's note: Mussel Point, Onapua Bay, Length 7 cm Width 3.5 cm.
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Three Toki Pounamu, of various quadrangular forms terminating with steep bevels. Collector's Note: South Bay. Dark Green and light cloudy Nephrite, max Length 5.6 cm Width 3.6 cm.
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Two Hook Fragments, fashioned from bone, max Length 3.6 cm Width 1.5 cm.
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Complete Incision Toggle, used to guide the rotating shaft of drilling tools. Made from large bone, possibly marine ivory. Decorative notching evident at either end of toggle. Very fine and aged patina, Length 2.8 cm Width 1.8 cm.
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Rare bone Kaka Poria - bird ring, a bird ring of triangulated triple raised notching and hourglass incision at suspension hole. Fashioned from bone, possibly marine ivory. Fine patina. Young kaka were easily captured and tamed, they were held captive by a small leg ring called a poria, which had a small cord attached to prevent the bird flying off. Kaka poria (leg rings) could be quite ornate and were also worn as pendants. Mokai were made to call out to attract wild birds in the vicinity, who would come…
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Three Pounamu Adornments, each offering hourglass incisions at suspension hole. One in oval form with collectors note: Mussell point. Another in bird form and another in triangulated form. Various nephrite, max length 3.8 cm. Width 2.8 cm.
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Three tattooing chisels, museum registered. Uhi puru or uhi matarau used to insert pigment and made from fine albatross bone, max length 5.3 cm. Width 1.2 cm.
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Tattooing pigment pot, used in traditional Maori tattooing, this vessel would have held a mix of charcoal and water that would be applied with Uhi puru. Grey stone. Refer also to lot 42. Height 3 cm. Width 3.7 cm.
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Kaka Poria Pounamu, a bird ring of early form with incisioned hour glass suspension hole with slightly bevelled leg hole. Distinctly laminar nephrite. Length 3.1 cm. Width 2.7 cm.
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Pekapeka adornment, in an abstract pair of bird form. Hourglass incisioned suspension hole. Pounamu. Width 4.5 cm D2.8 cm.
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Pounamu adornment, fine needle form with incisioned hour glass suspension hole. Nephrite. Length 6.5 cm. Width .5 cm.
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Pounamu adornment with a gold suspension ring, transitional style in ovoid form. Nephrite. Length 6.5 cm. Width 1.5 cm.
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Pounamu adornment with gold clasp, transitional style in ovoid form. Nephrite. Length 6.5 cm. Width 1 cm.
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Kuru Pounamu ear adornment, transitional style in ovoid angular bevel form. Incisioned hour glass suspension hole, nephrite. Note: Eady collection Ex. Auckland Museum. Length 6.2 cm. Width 1.2 cm.
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Pounamu adornment - fragment, gauge section with worked scarves to each lateral side. Broken at poll then later drilled. Polished nephrite (kawakawa variety). Length 6 cm. Width 2 cm.
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Kuru Pounamu ear adornment, long fine ovoid form. Incisioned hour glass suspension hole for muka cord with bevelled shoulders. Nephrite. Length 8.5 cm. Width 1.2 cm.
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Large Pounamu adornment, long fine ovoid form. Incisioned hour glass suspension for muka cord. Nephrite. Length 13.4 cm. Width 1.7 cm.
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Fine Kuru Pounamu ear adornment, long fine ovoid form. Incisioned hour glass suspension hole for muka cord. Nephrite of tangiwai type. Length 10.1 cm. Width 1.3 cm.
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A fine toki Pounamu, the stone, almost round in section, flecked throughout. Tapered at both ends. Worn and polished. Dark green nephrite. Length 6 cm. Width 1 cm.
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Two delicate toki Pounamu, 14202. One toki almost round in section and tapered at both ends with other in triangulated form. Worn and polished. Light green and dark green nephrite, max length 5.7 cm. Width 1.5 cm.
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Fine Group of Pre Contact Adornments, all with incisioned hour glass suspension holes for muka cord. Bone, Dark Nephrite, shell, max Length 3.1 cm Width 1.7 cm.
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Thirteen assorted toki and stone, bone tool fragments, including bird spear head, sinkers, adornments, adze and chisels. Fashioned from various material, max length 11.2 cm. Width 8 cm.
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Hei Tiki Pounamu, in orthodox stance, with large head tilting to the right. Incisioned hour glass suspension hole for muka cord with evidence of second suspension hole being undertaken on back of adornment. Worn upper quarter marginalising left eye with tongue extended. Elbow and rib details evident but well worn. Nephrite, kawakawa type. Late 19th century, Length 7.2 cm Width 3.9 cm.
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Hei Tiki Pounamu, in orthodox stance, with head tilting to the right. Incisioned hour glass suspension hole for muka cord very worn. Worn upper quarter marginalising mouth, both eyes well defined as are elbows which extend arms to rest on legs. Faint evidence of feet detailing although very worn. Nephrite, kawakawa type. 19th century, Length 5.9 cm Width 4.5 cm.
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Hei Tiki Pounamu, large in orthodox stance, with centre ridged head tilting to the right. Incisioned hour glass suspension hole for muka cord. Overall form reminence of adze. Nephrite, kawakawa type. Late 19th century, Length 11 cm Width 6.8 cm
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Hei tiki Pounamu, a particularly fine example in orthodox stance, with ridged head tilting aggressively to the right. Incisioned hour glass suspension hole for muka cord extremely worn. Mouth and eyes well defined as are elbows which extend arms to rest on legs. Muscular ribs also well carved and evident. Nephrite, kawakawa type. 19th century. Length 7.3 cm. Width 5.2 cm.
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Hei tiki Pounamu, a particularly fine example. In orthodox stance, with strongly ridged head tilting to the right and over powering the body portion. Incisioned hour glass suspension hole for muka cord extremely fine. Mouth and eyes well defined as are elbows which extend arms to rest on legs. Muscular ribs also well carved and evident. Fine notching articulate face arms and legs. Scarfing on back. Nephrite, inanga type. 19th century. Length 7 cm. Width 3.5 cm.
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Hei Tiki Pounamu, a particularly interesting example in orthodox stance with strongly ridged head tilting aggressively to the right. Body portion greater than head. Large incisioned hour glass suspension hole for substantial muka cord. Overall form worn and polished. Mouth and eyes well defined as are elbows which extend arms to rest on mascular strongly proportioned legs. Head previously severed and repaired. It is believed that the severance of the enemy's tiki was a humiliation practice. A large number…
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Taranaki Hei Tiki Pounamu, in orthodox stance notched head tilting slightly to the right. Teeth evident. Red sealing wax applied to eyes. Overall narrow form. Incisioned hour glass suspension hole for muka cord. Nephrite. 20th century, Length 8.6 cm Width 5.6 cm.
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Rare Stone Tiki, very interesting pendant in crude tiki form with toggle suspension hole. Overall form showing very worn patina. Age unknown, Length 5.4 cm Width 3.3 cm.
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Hei Tiki Pounamu, in orthodox stance notched head tilting slightly to the right. Teeth evident. Red sealing wax applied to eyes. Overall narrow form. Incisioned hour glass suspension hole for muka cord. Nephrite. 20th century, Length 6.9 cm Width 3.7 cm.
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Hei Tiki Pounamu, in orthodox stance head tilting slightly to the right. Tongue evident. Red sealing wax applied to eyes. Overall narrow form. Incisioned hour glass suspension hole for muka cord. Nephrite. 20th century, Length 8.1 cm Width 4.8 cm.
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Hei Tiki Pounamu, museum registered. in orthodox stance head tilting slightly to the right. Tongue evident. Red sealing wax applied to eyes. Overall narrow form. Incisioned hour glass suspension hole for muka cord. Nephrite. 20th century, Length 6.8 cm Width 4.2 cm.
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Heru - comb, extremely fine example offering two mania in classical form resting on upper lip of heru. Eye detailing of one Mania has been weathered through. Body of comb physically porous with decolourisation appearing on one side. Surface also suggests sand worm damage with trails possibly evident. Twelve complete teeth finely incised. Slight curvature throughout body of entire object. Weather bleached whale bone. Height 18.2 cm. Width 10.1 cm.
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Rare Moa bone harpoon head, bone harpoon head with a single barb. Appearance of the second barb accidental, due to careful levelling of the back to accommodate shaft. Hole hand drilled for reattachment. Six types have been recorded. Eldson Best, recognised expert and author on the subject describes this as variety two. Found in Banks Peninsula 1957. Collector' note: Taumuta 1957, Simmonds. Early period. Length 14.6 cm. Width 3 cm .
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Extremely Rare Whale Tooth Rei Puta, considered to be one of the rarest forms of Maori adornment the Rei Puta was a chiefly signifier worn by the ancestors of the Moa Hunter's of Aotearoa. With its strong crocodilian reference the Rei Puta style can be traced back to eastern Polynesia and the first wave of ancient adventurers that landed in Aotearoa during the turn of the last millennium. In 1769 Captain Cooks official artist Sydney Parkinson depicted a chief's son named Te Kuukuu from the Bay of Islands…
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Extremely rare yellow Pounamu adornment, both beautiful and powerful, this adornment would have signalled the mana and high rank of both the creator and the owner. Its fine elongated form is without doubt the work of a master craftsman. For ceremonial practice in the sacred production of the finest muka, the adornment would be applied to the making of the most complex and finest of chiefly cloaks used to forge political alliances and communicate rank and status. Conical incision suspension hole. Length 14…
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Rare rain cape, double pair twining with two areas of tailored shaping. Robust plaited finish at top edge. Exposed surface beautifully thatched with precise rows of dyed dark brown flax leaf and clutches of undyed light brown plant fibre in repeated abstract pattern. Pre contact. Length 137 cm. Width 127 cm.
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