**First Time At Auction**

Oceania, New Zealand, Maori people, ca. late 19th to early 20th century CE. A fine kotiate club, a traditional type of weapon, hand-carved from a hard wood and inlaid with inlaid paua (abalone) shell. The lobed blade and a straight handle are incised with intricate scrolling kowhaiwhai patterns linear, ridged, and curvilinear channels and the deep carving and notching, known as pakati, is characteristic of Maori and related to tattoo artistry. The superb workmanship on these weapons made them highly desirable and later ones, such as this, are almost entirely carved and accented with shimmering paua. Size: 13.75" L x 4.75" W (34.9 cm x 12.1 cm)

Maori wood carving is an incredible art form, its practitioners rightly recognized as masters. Their woodcarving tradition lasted in many areas into the later nineteenth century despite colonization and missionaries. Carving schools in several areas of the country kept the Maori tradition alive. Carvers used local trees, and a prayer known as a karakia would be said prior to cutting them down, thus showing respect for the forest. Massive wooden architectural elements, such as those still preserved at Whakarewarewa, reflect similar carved elements to those on this kotiate club.

A similar example can be found on the British Museum's website, object number: Oc1928,0110.109.

Provenance: private Vero Beach, Florida, USA collection, acquired from Morning Star Gallery, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA in 2000

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#178285

Stable pressure fissures across wood and chips to periphery of paddle. Chip and minor abrasions to nacre inlays. Dark patina across wood.