Lot 20
Oceania, New Zealand, Maori, ca. 19th century CE. A carved ceremonial tokotoko (walking staff), hewn from rich native hardwood, its surface worn to a warm patina through handling and age. This sculptural staff served not as a mere aid to walking, but as a potent symbol of speech, authority, and genealogy on the marae (meeting ground), traditionally held by elders and orators as they addressed the assembled. The handle curves in the form of a stylized zoomorphic head, its features intricately rendered, suggesting a guardian spirit or ancestral presence. Just beneath it rises a vertical carved band with a skillfully executed anthropomorphic figure on one side, arms bent, knees flexed in a posture of alert engagement, and an openwork lizard on the other. The figure's face is inlaid with paua (abalone shell) eyes, radiating a watchful mana. Delicate surface detailing evokes traditional ta moko tattoo patterns, emphasizing the figure's authority and lineage. Size: 2.7" W x 35.8" H (6.9 cm x 90.9 cm)
Lower on the shaft, another carved head emerges midsection - zoomorphic in style, with two shell-inlaid eyes and spiral patterns framing the contours, possibly representing a taniwha (supernatural being) or protective ancestor. Tokotoko such as this are deeply tied to the Maori oral tradition. In modern times, they are ceremonially presented to recipients of the New Zealand Poet Laureate award, signifying the enduring connection between speech, art, and authority. A finely preserved example of 19th-century carving, this staff bridges ancestral presence and performative power.
Provenance: Ralph T. Coe Center for the Arts, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA, purchased when traveling in London, UK with Tad Dale in 1995, at Bermondsey Market from James Singer, an American dealer leaving in England; ex-Castle Antiques, Essex, UK
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#195983
- Condition: A few small areas of old paint to shaft and light surface wear to wood, but, otherwise, intact and excellent with good detail and nice patina throughout.
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