Polynesian war club (or maori?)

kronckew · 26th September 2014, 11:40 PM

or not? (billed as an antique polynesian war club)

looks suspiciously maori; like a wahaika without the normal backwards looking tiki. nicely decorated thong hole.`14.5 inches long.

Battara · 27th September 2014, 04:46 AM

I could be wrong but this strikes me as modern and not Maori.

VANDOO · 27th September 2014, 06:47 PM

I AGREE IT IS A MODERN INTERPRETATION OF A MAORI WAHAIKA WITH ATYPICAL DECORATION SIMILAR TO MAORI DESIGNS BUT NOT A OLD TRADITIONAL DESIGN. IT MAY HAVE BEEN CARVED IN NEW ZEALAND BY MAORI OR NOT?. THEY STILL CARVE THEM IN VARIOUS DEGREES OF QUALITY FOR THE TOURISTS AND PERHAPS ARTISTS MAKE SOME NEW ORIGINAL ART DESIGNS THERE. I HAVE EVEN SEEN SOME VERY NICE LOOKING ONES CAST FROM A PLASTIC RESIN FOR SALE. IT IS THE FIRST I HAVE SEEN LIKE IT ON EBAY SO HOPEFULLY WE WON'T BE SEEING A LOT MORE JUST LIKE IT ON EBAY WHICH IS ALWAYS A BAD SIGN.
IT LOOKS WELL CARVED AND APPEARS THAT A GOOD HARD WOOD WAS USED SO UNLESS ITS MADE FROM RESIN IT IS STILL A INTERESTING ART OBJECT.

kronckew · 27th September 2014, 07:38 PM

ah, well. have asked the vendor if they have any more info on where/when it came from. they might answer. looks like nice wood
anyway. i've seen a modern interpretation carved by someone in france that was on offer for a substantial price.

i noted during research that not all wahaika have a tiki, only 99.999%

didn't see any like this. maybe that's why they listed it as 'polynesian' rather than maori.

from what i can see of the prices, i can't afford a real antique one, so am limited to more modern 'vintage' productions.

kronckew · 29th September 2014, 08:38 AM

response from dealer was that it was bought at an auction from a private owner then re-sold to the current dealer. she indicated that she initially thought it was maori, but knew that the carving pattern may have placed it at another island, hence the generic 'polynesian' in the listing rather than 'maori'.

translation: lost provenance.

could have been carved by a little old lady in the shetlands for the Up Helly Aa!

native shetland islanders

kronckew · 30th September 2014, 03:40 PM

'club' thingy arrived today & is on it's way back to supplier.

when i unpacked it it was remarkably light. tinked it with my fingernail - it sounded like plastic. examining further, i could see in the detail near the lanyard hole where the mould hadn't filled fully. repacked it and sent it back.

luckily i'd ought it online with paypal & they will ensure i get a refund one way or another. dealer said her supplier told her he'd bought it at a bonham's sale so never looked closely.

shame, had a nice grain, sharp edge

i've since seen a couple of 'maori' clubs on ebay listed as 'vintage' that were duplicates of wood ones sold earlier this year, so i shall transfer my affections elsewhere for now.

'caveat emptor' works for dealers when buying as well as end users.

26th September 2014, 11:40 PM	#1
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,150	Polynesian war club (or maori?) or not? (billed as an antique polynesian war club) looks suspiciously maori; like a wahaika without the normal backwards looking tiki. nicely decorated thong hole.`14.5 inches long. Attached Images

27th September 2014, 04:46 AM	#2
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,139	I could be wrong but this strikes me as modern and not Maori.

27th September 2014, 06:47 PM	#3
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	I AGREE IT IS A MODERN INTERPRETATION OF A MAORI WAHAIKA WITH ATYPICAL DECORATION SIMILAR TO MAORI DESIGNS BUT NOT A OLD TRADITIONAL DESIGN. IT MAY HAVE BEEN CARVED IN NEW ZEALAND BY MAORI OR NOT?. THEY STILL CARVE THEM IN VARIOUS DEGREES OF QUALITY FOR THE TOURISTS AND PERHAPS ARTISTS MAKE SOME NEW ORIGINAL ART DESIGNS THERE. I HAVE EVEN SEEN SOME VERY NICE LOOKING ONES CAST FROM A PLASTIC RESIN FOR SALE. IT IS THE FIRST I HAVE SEEN LIKE IT ON EBAY SO HOPEFULLY WE WON'T BE SEEING A LOT MORE JUST LIKE IT ON EBAY WHICH IS ALWAYS A BAD SIGN. IT LOOKS WELL CARVED AND APPEARS THAT A GOOD HARD WOOD WAS USED SO UNLESS ITS MADE FROM RESIN IT IS STILL A INTERESTING ART OBJECT.

27th September 2014, 07:38 PM	#4
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,150	ah, well. have asked the vendor if they have any more info on where/when it came from. they might answer. looks like nice wood anyway. i've seen a modern interpretation carved by someone in france that was on offer for a substantial price. i noted during research that not all wahaika have a tiki, only 99.999% didn't see any like this. maybe that's why they listed it as 'polynesian' rather than maori. from what i can see of the prices, i can't afford a real antique one, so am limited to more modern 'vintage' productions.

29th September 2014, 08:38 AM	#5
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,150	response from dealer was that it was bought at an auction from a private owner then re-sold to the current dealer. she indicated that she initially thought it was maori, but knew that the carving pattern may have placed it at another island, hence the generic 'polynesian' in the listing rather than 'maori'. translation: lost provenance. could have been carved by a little old lady in the shetlands for the Up Helly Aa! native shetland islanders

30th September 2014, 03:40 PM	#6
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,150	'club' thingy arrived today & is on it's way back to supplier. when i unpacked it it was remarkably light. tinked it with my fingernail - it sounded like plastic. examining further, i could see in the detail near the lanyard hole where the mould hadn't filled fully. repacked it and sent it back. luckily i'd ought it online with paypal & they will ensure i get a refund one way or another. dealer said her supplier told her he'd bought it at a bonham's sale so never looked closely. shame, had a nice grain, sharp edge i've since seen a couple of 'maori' clubs on ebay listed as 'vintage' that were duplicates of wood ones sold earlier this year, so i shall transfer my affections elsewhere for now. 'caveat emptor' works for dealers when buying as well as end users.