Maori Pipe - Lot 65

Maori Pipe New Zealand Wood Circa 1890 H. 10.2 cm Provenance: Parke Bernet Galleries - Parke Bernet Galleries sale, November 7, 1970, Ethnographical Art, lot 104 - Terence Barrow (1923- 2001) Honolulu, Hawaii - Leo (1918 -2002) and Lillian Fortess, Honolulu, Hawaii - Jacques Kerchache, Paris - Galerie Meyer, Paris - Collection of Monsieur B., Paris Exceptional Maori ceremonial pipe representing King Tawhio (1822-1894), who was the second Maori king. The pipe bowl is richly decorated with whakairo motifs on both sides. The third side depicts the monarch, with his characteristic facial tattoos (moko), which made it possible to identify him. The workmanship and royal iconography of this pipe bear witness to the refined art of Maori and a direct link between political and spiritual history. Similar objects are kept at the British Museum in London and the Te Papa Tongarewa Museum in Wellington.