Three Fine Old Maori Orators Staffs from New Zealand 19th Century

Three Fine Old Maori Orators Staffs from New Zealand 19th Century

Three finely carved Maori Orators Staffs tokotoko.  These beautifully carved Maori Artworks are likely from the late 19th Century or very early 20th Century.

From Left to Right in the group photo:

Far Left: A Fine Maori Orators Staff with a well-carved Ancestor Figure near the handle and another midway down the staff both with pearl-shell eyes, the spiral motifs covering most of the surface were carved a very confident master carver.

Middle: The spatulate form Staff is fully incised on both sides it comprises three large stylized ancestor faces with inset pearl shell eyes and separated by finely incised spiral designs except for the very bottom handle or about 30cm out of the height of 122cm,

Right: A Fine Maori Orators Staff with a well-carved Ancestor Figure in acrobat style near the handle and another face midway down the staff both the figure and the face have pearl-shell eyes, the spiral motifs covering most of the surface was carved a very confident master carver.

I am not an expert on Maori designs and I would be happy to hear from someone more knowledgeable

Maori artists made some of the most beautiful artworks ever made by human beings.

All three artworks have a fine custom-made stand so they can be displayed on the floor or on a table

Provenance: The Todd Barlin Collection of Oceanic & Polynesian Art