Items Similar to Carved Wood Māori Wahaika Club New Zeland
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 21
Carved Wood Māori Wahaika Club New Zeland
About the Item
A wood club known as Wahaika intricately carved and inlayed with small round shells from New Zealand circa 1920s. The hand-hold club was traditionally used as a close-range combat weapon before the European contact by Māori people, indigenous natives to the islands. It was used in as staff in ceremonies.
The surface of this particular wood Wahaika features deep relief carving of linear scrolling triple haehae and dog tooth pattern in between. The haehae pattern curved into homomorphic mirrored imagery on both the front and back. Strategic placement of shell inlays highlights the eyes. The small figure clinging to the side above the handle may represent the supernatural power (mana) of the weapon. The handle is in the form of another head with shell inlay, likely represents the aggression of its owner. The thin edge was carved with arrowheads alternating with inlays.
Examining the Wahaika club, it does not appear that it was a natively used piece collected from the field, due to the lack of specific patina. However, it was a fine example. The surface was superbly carved and decorated and show age. Early Wahaikas tend to be simple with mostly smooth surface, from 1880s on, the intricate carving increasingly covers the surface augmented sometimes with shell inlays. The carving bears the styl3600 of Rotorua school. It is possibly that the club was made during the depression era (1920-30s) by a member of the first Māori Arts and Crafts Institute, established by Sir Apirana Ngata, in Rotorua in 1926. It was likely sold as souvenir to the early tourists.
For a similar Wahaika, see D23.708 in the collection of Tuhura Otago Museum in Dunedin, New Zealand.
- Dimensions:Height: 14 in (35.56 cm)Width: 5.5 in (13.97 cm)Depth: 0.75 in (1.91 cm)
- Style:Tribal (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1920-30s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Fine condition overall, no missing shell inlays. Overall surface patina and wear with small nicks on edges. A stable old crack line on one side of the handle as shown.
- Seller Location:Atlanta, GA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU945037881482
About the Seller
5.0
Platinum Seller
These expertly vetted sellers are 1stDibs' most experienced sellers and are rated highest by our customers.
Established in 2006
1stDibs seller since 2010
479 sales on 1stDibs
Typical response time: <1 hour
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Atlanta, GA
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 2 days of delivery.
More From This SellerView All
- Australian Aboriginal Carved Ancestor Figure with Ochre PaintLocated in Atlanta, GAHand-carved wood ancestor figure with surface pictorial carving showing kangaroo hunting and decorated with black and red paint and white and yellow ocher pigment. The figure slightly leans forward as made. The piece was carved by aboriginal artist...Category
Early 2000s Australian Folk Art Figurative Sculptures
MaterialsWood
- Australian Aboriginal Painting on Hollow LogLocated in Atlanta, GALorrkon hollow log. Artist: Bronwyn Kelly. Year of birth: 1974. Nationality: Australian. Region: West Central Arnhem Land. Language group: Kuninjku. M...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Australian Tribal Abstract Sculptures
MaterialsWood
- Large Double Kuro Jade Māori Sculpture from New ZealandLocated in Atlanta, GAAn impressively large jade sculpture for table or desktop. In Māori style from New Zealand, the heavy jade Nephrite slab (also known as “pounamu”)...Category
1990s New Zealand Tribal Abstract Sculptures
MaterialsJade
- Ceramic Pre-Columbian Colima Hunchback Figure VesselLocated in Atlanta, GAA pre-Columbian figural vessel from West Mexico Colima culture (circa 300BC-400AD). Made of molded clay, the stoneware vessel depicts a seated hunchback...Category
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Mexican Pre-Columbian Figurative Sculpt...
MaterialsCeramic
- Carved Wood Aboriginal Shield, Western AustraliaLocated in Atlanta, GAA tall and narrow parrying shield from the Aboriginal people living in the Western Australia. The piece was carved out of a single block of hard wood t...Category
Early 20th Century Australian Tribal Tribal Art
MaterialsWood
- Large Chinese Carved Wood Robe RackLocated in Atlanta, GAA large garment or robe rack from Northern China, circa first half of the 20th century. Made of elm wood with pronounced black wood grains, the rack was trad...Category
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
MaterialsWood
You May Also Like
- Stirrup Vessel Wood Hand- Carved Massim People Papua New GuineaLocated in North Hollywood, CAWood Carved Stirrup Vessel, or Pipe, Massim people, Trobriand Islands, Papua New Guinea. Hand-carved wood in the form of a large animal with a top ci...Category
Early 20th Century Papua New Guinean Tribal Sculptures and Carvings
MaterialsWood
- Zulu Tribal Carved Wood Snuff Container, South Africa Finely Carved IncisedLocated in Point Richmond, CAZulu Tribal carved wood Snuff Container, South Africa A finely carved snuff container with finely carved incised great geometric designs, a great example of the detailed work the Zu...Category
Early 20th Century South African Tribal Tribal Art
MaterialsWood
- Papua New Guinea Carved-Wood Lumi Shield on Custom Iron StandLocated in Atlanta, GAA Papua New Guinea carved-wood Lumi shield from the mid-20th century. This vintage war shield from the West Sepik region, the northwestern most province of...Category
Mid-20th Century Papua New Guinean Sculptures and Carvings
MaterialsIron
- Sweet Bird Topped Carved Wood Bambara Wood Door Lock, Mali Africa MountedLocated in Point Richmond, CAA very sweet small sized carved wood bird topped door lock from the Bambara people of Mali Africa. Originally would have had a horizontal sliding cross bar lock, now missing. Mounted...Category
Early 20th Century Malian Tribal Tribal Art
MaterialsWood
- Carved-Wood 'Bembe' StatueLocated in Pittsburgh, PACarved-Wood 'Bembe' Statue. Republic of Congo, circa 1970.Category
Vintage 1970s Congolese Sculptures and Carvings
MaterialsWood
- Hand Carved Wood Cone from Ethiopia, Mid-20th CenturyLocated in New York, NYA single piece of solid mango wood, hand carved into a standing cone, circa 1960. Use it as door stoppers, or in a group for an eye-catching accent in any rustic or eclectic decor, i...Category
Vintage 1960s Ethiopian Tribal Abstract Sculptures
MaterialsWood
