13th Jun, 2024 10:30
Summer Specialist Sale
Ethnographica: Austral Islands Chief's staff or pole club, 19th century
Ethnographica: Extremely rare Austral Islands (French Polynesia) Chief's staff or pole club, 19th century, the pommel (hand-carved using shark teeth) with six stylised nio mango masks, each with two short 'horns' to forehead, over pierced openwork scallop and shark tooth frieze above tapering ring-turned grip, the shaft with basal collar, 182cm long overall
Literature:
Mack, Charles W., 'Polynesian Art at Auction 1965-1980', 1982
Hall, Henry Usher, Woodcarvings of the Austral Islands [Penn Museum Journal]
Read, Sir C. H., “On the Origin and Sacred Character of Certain Ornaments of the South-Eastern Pacific” [Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute, Vol. 21, 1891-1892]
The terminals to these staffs are carved very much in the manner of the more common paddle clubs.
Similar lots sold at auction:
Bonhams, New York, 13th May 2019, lot 56.
Bonhams, San Francisco, 5th May 2015, lot 93.
Sold for £15,500
Ethnographica: Extremely rare Austral Islands (French Polynesia) Chief's staff or pole club, 19th century, the pommel (hand-carved using shark teeth) with six stylised nio mango masks, each with two short 'horns' to forehead, over pierced openwork scallop and shark tooth frieze above tapering ring-turned grip, the shaft with basal collar, 182cm long overall
Literature:
Mack, Charles W., 'Polynesian Art at Auction 1965-1980', 1982
Hall, Henry Usher, Woodcarvings of the Austral Islands [Penn Museum Journal]
Read, Sir C. H., “On the Origin and Sacred Character of Certain Ornaments of the South-Eastern Pacific” [Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute, Vol. 21, 1891-1892]
The terminals to these staffs are carved very much in the manner of the more common paddle clubs.
Similar lots sold at auction:
Bonhams, New York, 13th May 2019, lot 56.
Bonhams, San Francisco, 5th May 2015, lot 93.
Auction: Summer Specialist Sale, 13th Jun, 2024
Our Summer Specialist Sale of Fine Furniture, Modern Design, Paintings, Prints, Silver, Jewellery, Watches, Ceramics, Glassware & other Collectors
Highlights included an Austral Islands Cheif's staff £15,500, a Large Minton majolica elephant four-branch candelabrum centrepiece £6,200, an Asscher cut diamond (approx. 4.5 carats) platinum ring £11,500, The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India, K.C.S.I £12,500, and an early 19th century double-sided micromosaic table box £11,000.
Viewing
Wednesday 12th June - 10am till 5pm
