A Superb Old Maori Canoe Paddle Polynesian Art from New Zealand Circa 1860

A Superb Old Maori Canoe Paddle Polynesian Art from New Zealand Circa 1860s 

This very fine old Maori Canoe Paddle or Hoe would date from approximately the 1860s, that was the date given to me by the late DR Roger Neich Maori Art expert & author who worked at the Auckland Museum for decades.

The Paddle is beautifully decorated with incised designs over the entire Paddle Blade on both sides.  There is a pair of ancestors’ eyes on one side of the blade and the finial of the handle has a stylized head in profile (see detailed photos).  The paddle is carved from a single piece of hardwood and is in very good original condition.

The carved spiral designs are so precise and evenly spaced that the artist was a genius master carver & almost certainly there would be other artworks by the same carver in museum collections in New Zealand & the UK.

Canoes or Waka are of great significance to the Maori as that is how they came to New Zealand in their voyaging to new lands from the ancestral home called Hawaiki and the various Maori Tribes recall their ancestor’s arrival by Canoe to Aotearoa (long white cloud) – the Māori name now used for New Zealand

Canoe voyaging implements like paddles & canoe bailers are essential to canoe travel.  Maori artists made some of the most beautiful artworks ever made by human beings.

The Paddle comes with a nice custom made so that it can be displayed on the floor or on a table

Provenance: Old Collection UK and The Todd Barlin Collection of Oceanic & Polynesian Art

I first went to Papua New Guinea in 1985 for an adventure & what I found was that I really enjoyed being with the people of New Guinea, over the next 38 years I spent extensive time collecting and documenting traditional art & ceremonies in remote areas of Papua New Guinea & West Papua, The Solomon Islands & Vanuatu & the other Pacific Islands countries. During these travels, I made major collections of New Guinea and Oceanic Art for major Museums and Public Art Galleries

I was honored by being in the prestigious Louvre Museum Magazine for the collections I made for The Museum of African & Oceanic Art Paris in1996 (now the Musee Quai Branly) for the exhibition “Asmat et Mimika d’ Irian Jaya April 1996 At THE MUSEE NATIONAL des ARTS D’AFRIQUE et d’ OCEANIE, Paris

See my new EXHIBITIONS GALLERY  where there are photos of Exhibitions that I provided the artworks for over the past 40 years.

I have artwork for Museums & Art Galleries but also for collectors at every stage of their collecting. I want to encourage people to explore the fine art of New Guinea & West Papua and the Pacific Islands and to be able to see and touch the artworks in a relaxed and friendly manner in my Sydney Gallery.  I would like to invite you to visit my gallery and see the artworks in person and also look at my website www.oceanicartsaustralia.com  where there are many Galleries & Sub Galleries to explore.

My Gallery of nearly 40 years is the last physical gallery in Sydney that specializes in New Guinea & Oceanic Art. Sydney is close to New Guinea & the Pacific Islands where all of these amazing artworks came from, Australia’s closest neighbors.

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If you have a similar “object” for sale please contact me for the best price and honest advice by a Government approved valuer 

To see many more rare items and the finest masterpieces, please make an appointment with us to visit the gallery.

For all inquiries, please contact us.