Null Kanak headgear, bird's beak type
New Caledonia
in carved wood
L. 74 cm
(cra…

Description

Kanak headgear, bird's beak type New Caledonia in carved wood L. 74 cm (cracks) Collected by a French officer at the end of the XIXth century and then transmitted by descent.

208

Kanak headgear, bird's beak type New Caledonia in carved wood L. 74 cm (cracks) Collected by a French officer at the end of the XIXth century and then transmitted by descent.

Auction is over for this lot. See the results

You may also like

Estim. 150 - 250 EUR

KANAK, New Caledonia. Ancient stone sculpture in the shape of a traditional hut. Height: 15 cm

Estim. 300 - 400 EUR

NEW CALEDONIA. BEAUTIFUL KANAK WAR MASS with stylized bird beak collected in the 30's. 77x23.

Estim. 1 200 - 1 500 EUR

Kanak Puzzle New Caledonia Carved wood with dark patina 19th century Height: 82 cm. Length of beak: 34 cm. Provenance: Mackie Collection, Paris, Nouméa Mackie Collection, Paris, Nouméa The name generally used to designate these clubs, gö-poropwä-rä-märü in the Paicî language, refers to the center of Grande Terre. Our object has the stylistic characteristics of a stylized "bird-head" puzzle, distinguished here by the extreme finesse and length of its beak. It takes the form of a long handle with a circular cross-section, the upper end of which is curved at a right angle and carved in the shape of a tapering point, evoking a bird's beak. Sculpted in the extension of the beak, with finesse and subtlety, a crest falls to the back of the neck. The eyes are represented by two bulging protuberances. The bird represented is thought to be the cagou, a species with a crest of feathers on the back of its head. It is also accepted that in certain regions, the representation could suggest the beaked head of the hawksbill turtle, the object being referred to in the Houailou language as 'goc-goc'. The stylization and purity of these puzzles are enhanced by the glossy brown patina with bronze highlights, obtained by the application of fern leaves wrapped in tapa or bat fur. The finesse of these creations would indicate a ceremonial rather than military use. Reserved for chiefs, these prestigious objects affirmed their owner's wealth and status, and were choice gifts for ceremonial events.

Estim. 1 000 - 1 200 EUR

Star-shaped club Kanak population, New Caledonia Acacia wood with dark honey patina 19th century Height: 69cm One of the earliest European representations of the Kanak people comes from a drawing by Nicolas Piron, the draftsman who accompanied Bruni d'Entrecasteaux on his expedition from 1791 to 1794. This depiction shows a warrior holding a thruster in his right hand, while his left hand holds a star-shaped puzzle. Traditionally crafted from an extremely hard and resistant wood - in this case, guaiac (Acacia spirorbis) magnified by the lustrous dark honey patina - these close-combat weapons come in a variety of shapes, as catalogued by Fritz Sarasin in 1929. Our object belongs to the straight star-headed type. The cylindrical handle flares out at the end, announcing the cap-shaped head that widens into irregular lobes.

Online payments are secured by Ingenico and encrypted transactions.

Each lot has been authenticated and appraised by an Auction House.

Consult our FAQ or contact us

Composed of several subsidiaries, the Drouot Group is a major player in the art market. Hôtel Drouot, located in the heart of Paris, has been the world's largest public auction center since 1852. 15 salerooms are available to more than 70 auction houses. The emulation generated by an annual offer of 230,000 artworks from 21 major specialities - from Antiquity to street art - attracts some 3,000 visitors every day. The Group's digital platform, Drouot.com, offers digital sales - Live auctions (live broadcasting and participation in auctions), Online-only auctions (dematerialised auctions) and Buy Now sales (sales of lots at fixed prices). Nearly 2 million items are offered annually by 600 auction houses. Auction news is reported every week in La Gazette Drouot, the leading weekly magazine for the art market and culture published by Auctionspress.

More about Drouot

Drouot certified auction houses

Contacts

HÔTEL DROUOT

9, rue Drouot 75009 Paris, France

+33 (0)1 48 00 20 00

[email protected]

DROUOT.com

[email protected]