Taiaha, finally!!!
 

For me it has been the month of long things.

I am please to say I finally found and secured a Taiaha I am happy to keep in my collections.
It has been a long time coming with a very long search to balance price and quality but patience is rewarding (sometimes).
If I was being fussy :rolleyes: , the only improvment I would want on one would be the inlay to the eye sockets and feathers to the top, though for me the size at 172cms long and with such a dark earthly patina, I'm stoked!! :D
Images from the auction.

Enjoy

Gav

What can one say ! Old too. You wicked wicked man to taunt us so. :cool: :cool: :cool: Just great.

CONGRADULATIONS ON A VERY NICE OLD ONE. THESE ARE A PLEASURE TO HANDLE AND FEEL GOOD AND BALANCE WELL IN HAND. JUST BE CAREFUL AND DON'T GET CARRIED AWAY AS YOU MIGHT PUT A DING IN SOMETHING ACCIDENTALLY :D IT TOOK ME MANY YEARS BEFORE I COULD AQUIRE ONE FOR MY COLLECTION. THERE MAY HAVE BEEN MORE IN AUSTRALIA AS ITS A LOT NEARER THE SOURCE THAN OKLAHOMA. :rolleyes:

YOUR EXAMPLE DOES APPEAR TO HAVE HAD PUA SHELL INLAY IN THE EYES AND IT IS NOT DIFFICULT TO FIND ROUNDS OF PUA SHELL FOR SALE SO SHOULD BE FAIRLY EASY TO REPLACE IF YOU WANT. BUT IT IS JUST GREAT AS IS. I HAVE SEEN A FEW CLUBS WHERE RED SEALING WAX WAS USED AROUND THE EYES BUT THAT IS MOSTLY SEEN ON THE HEI TIKI.

Congratulations, that's an excellent piece. Are you going to learn to do the haka with it :D :D :D

Best,

F

What a nice piece. Congratulations! Yes, I am in the restoration camp. :)

Gav

Very nice. That is a keeper, for sure.

Thanks Chaps
 

Thanks Chaps,

There was a phrase used some time back that caused a lot of questions and I can use it now, "I'm chuffed" :D
I don't think I'll have it with me before I go to Bali at the end of the month but when in hand I'll share some of the finer detail.
I'm currently organising a custom elevated stand for it with a manufacturer and it will no doubt take pride and place amongst the other keepers.
Plenty of room in the back yard for a quick twirl too...just need to consider the dogs and kids though...despite either never letting me rest I do want to keep them around :rolleyes:
I'll make some cardboard blanks for the eyes and see if I can have a Hawaiian carver commision me some...then I'll need to look at a non-permanent non-intrusive or destructive methods of sitting them in the sockets...but as you note Vandoo, it does just look fine the way it is...
What I am really hoping for it legible faint remains of script left on the two collector/museum tags seen in the images...fingers crossed.

Thanks again

Gav

I think that would be great, to put the eyes back in and restore it's soul again.

Battara, you have done many a restoration, should I manage to get the eyes carved, can you recommend any non destructive, intrusive or permanent methods for attaching the 'new eyes'? I thought about warming some blu-tak to make it very soft and placing it behind the eyes??? At least it can all be rubbed off and out of the sockets if ever wanted.

Anyone with recommended securing methods along these lines?

Gav

Gav,
Not my collecting area, but I really like this one.


Beautiful carvings and old patina!:)

I HAVE SEVERAL SIZES OF ROUNDS MADE OF NEW ZEALAND PUA SHELL I BOUGHT AT A GEM AND MINERAL SHOW THEY COME IN ALL SIZES AND ARE INEXPENSIVE AND ALREADY POLISHED. IF IT WERE MINE I WOULD MEASURE BOTH EYES TO GET NEAR THE CORRECT SIZE AND THEN MEASURE THE CENTER AND SEE IF I COULD DRILL A HOLE (USE A SMALL BIT FIRST THEN PROGRESS LARGER UNTIL DESIRED SIZE REACHED, GRIND AND SHAPE EACH EYE UNTIL THEY FIT CORRECTLY AND THEN GLUE THEM IN. I AM NOT SURE WHAT I WOULD USE FOR GLUE BUT SOMETHING THAT COULD BE EASILY REMOVED WOULD BE BEST. ELMERS WOOD GLUE IS WATER SOLUBLE BUT I DON'T THINK SOAKING THE WOOD IS A GOOD IDEA. CHECK AROUND FOR A ROCK SHOP OR ROCKHOUND CLUB OR SOMEONE WHO DOES LAPIDARY WORK AND PERHAPS YOU CAN FIND A SOURCE FOR THE SHELL ROUNDS. THEY DO MAKE A LOT OF JEWLRY USING THE PUA SHELL. MAKE SURE TO USE NEW ZEALAND PUA SHELL FOR THE EYES OR THE TIKI WILL GET YA :p GOOD LUCK

Thanks Maurice, I have been viewing all that I can find in NZ museums and this is to my eye by far one of the most attractive and best carved examples I can find.
Many of the Oldman collection are in these museums too and it is of the quality found in his collections...very happy.

Gav

outstanding
 

Thanks Vandoo....eeeekkkk, glue...permanent....maybe.....
I will read and look for the shell at local markets and gem shows too, I will get a few spare and try my hand at the dremel....I think I'll need that luck too if I am going to undertake it myself.

Gav

Actually Vandoo is onto something. Elmer's glue is not that permanent and can be taken off easily. The eyes should stay on as long as you don't use the piece.

Thanks guys
 

Thanks Guys,

Not a product I am familiar with downunder. I'll google it and have a look around....no lasting effects hey....thanks it might just be what I need should I be able to source some shell.

Gav

You should be chuffed mate, its a beauty!
As for the eyes.....
If you get the right replacements made, then why not fix them permenantly?
Alternatively, you could test a little silicon sealant or acrylic for that matter, won't seep into the wood and should peel off.
Congrats again.
Gene