Lot 123

MAORI WEAVING PEG, TURUTURU

NEW ZEALAND

£5,250

African & Oceanic Art and Antiquities

Auction: 15 October 2019 at 16:00 BST

Description

carved wood, with a rounded terminal handle, narrowing at the neck before widening again and tapering to a point, the upper third below the handle ornately carved, with lizard figures reaching down from the neck into the body of the incised decoration, fine reddish patina, bearing a Sotheby's Chester label

Dimensions

36.5cm long

Footnote

Provenance:

Private collection, United Kingdom

Note:

Maori turuturu were used to pin the garment in place as it was being woven, their often ornate decoration illustrates a ritual significance. Garment weaving was conducted by women and was a highly formalised process learned over many years. The left-hand peg was always left plain, whilst the right hand was carved and dedicated to the lunar goddess, Hine-te-iwaiwa.

Maia Nuku, 2017, The Metropolitan Museum, New York