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• Auction House:
  Cordy's
• Sale Name:
  September 2016 Art & Antique Auction
• Sale Date:
  13 Sep 2016 ~ 9.30am (NZ time) (Lots 1 - 465)
  13 Sep 2016 ~ 5pm (NZ time) (Lots 470 - 790)
• Lot #:
  164
• Lot Description:
  A collection of seven Amokura tail feathers
  the full length feathers with off-white at the base tapering to their fine long length with typical striking red colouration, some fading evident. Average length 440.
• Provenance:
  'The Amokura feathers were acquired from Mike Scholes in 1989. These were given to his father in the 1930s when he had the souvenir and curio shop, which Mike and Sue now own, in Whakarewarewa'.
• Notes:
  The letter of provenance associated with these feathers also includes the details: ‘Amokura are the tail feathers of the Red Tailed Tropic Bird, a Pacific bird which has its nearest nesting place to N.Z. at Raoul Island, rarely seen in N.Z. when forced south by storms. These feathers were highly prized and were handed down through generations, used as fan shaped head decorations as can be seen in the mid-18th century French lithographs’. According to Elsdon Best, these feathers were indeed a prize to the Maori of old, and a valuable medium in barter being exchanged for greenstone and other coveted valuables. These seven feathers are housed in a Waka Huia which incorporates bird-like Manaia figures to the lid in an unusual design peculiar to the Te Arawa, named ‘Torea’ (pied oyster catcher-stilt). See letter attached.
• Estimate:
  NZ$1,400 - 1,400
• Realised Price:
  *****
  

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• Category:
  Tribal

This Sale has been held and this item is no longer available. Details are provided for information purposes only.