- 54
Maori Treasure Box, New Zealand
Estimate
10,000 - 15,000 USD
Log in to view results
bidding is closed
Description
- wood
- Length: 18 1/2 in (47 cm)
waka huia
Provenance
Lynda Cunningham, New York
Condition
Very good condition overall. Minor marks, nicks, scratches, abrasions, small chips and a few hairline cracks, consistent with age and use. A knot inside the box at one end, behind the figure, with a few short age cracks emanating from it. An old loss to the rim of the lower part of the box. Loss to the tenon at one end of the lid. Fine aged patina with traces of reddish pigment in some of the hollows.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.
Catalogue Note
While Maori used treasure boxes, also called waka huia, to store important contents, the boxes themselves also endure as exquisite works of craftsmanship and as personal objects that were highly valued in their own right. Carvers produced boxes like this one in their leisure time, not only following the visual styles of their tribal communities but also injecting the designs with their own creativity. The present box incorporates spirals and rounded curves with a dogtooth pattern, as well as figureheads at each end that face downwards.
Treasure boxes were most notably used to store items considered to be tapa, or sacred; this category primarily encompassed any articles that had come into contact with a chief’s head or neck, such as feathers, combs, and pendants. Since the sanctity of these items was thought to have the capacity to harm those of a lesser rank, the boxes would hang suspended from the rafters of a house to be kept out of the reach of children, thus allowing the box’s underside to be viewed from below.
Treasure boxes were most notably used to store items considered to be tapa, or sacred; this category primarily encompassed any articles that had come into contact with a chief’s head or neck, such as feathers, combs, and pendants. Since the sanctity of these items was thought to have the capacity to harm those of a lesser rank, the boxes would hang suspended from the rafters of a house to be kept out of the reach of children, thus allowing the box’s underside to be viewed from below.