Lot 353

19th C. Māori Ceremonial Paddle Hoe | Tiki Faces, Pāua Shell Inlay

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19th C. Māori Ceremonial Paddle Hoe | Tiki Faces, Pāua Shell Inlay

Estimate: $3,000 - $4,500

Starting Bid: $1,500

(0 Bids)

June 12, 2026 9:00 AM MDT
Live Auction
Louisville, CO, US

Description:

New Zealand, . Long paddle with lentoid finial, slightly convex on one side, flat on opposing side, carved with notched spiral patterns. The handle with three tiki heads equally spaced along the handle, with top head baring tongue. the uppermost figure bears its tongue in the defiant arero gesture — simultaneously an act of challenge, spiritual power, and chiefly prestige — and retains one original pāua shell eye, its iridescent blue-green still catching the light. The pāua shell, a type of abalone prized for its vibrant blue-green iridescence, was a hallmark of high-status Māori carving, its inlay into the eyes of ancestral faces believed to animate the figure with spiritual presence. Size: 54.75”L (139.1cm).

Provenance: The Seymour and Alyce Lazar Collection, Palm Springs, CA.

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Item # 71381

  • Condition: Dark brown patina with some notched texture visible.

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $749 $25
$750 $1,499 $50
$1,500 $2,999 $100
$3,000 $7,499 $250
$7,500 $14,999 $500
$15,000 + $1,000