Menu
EUR
CAD
AUD
GBP
MXN
HKD
CNY
MYR
SEK
SGD
CHF
THB19th C. Maori Pa Kahawai Fishing Lure - Abalone Shell
Lot 20a
About Seller
Artemis Fine Arts
686 S Taylor Ave, Ste 106
Louisville, CO 80027
United States
Selling antiquities, ancient and ethnographic art online since 1993, Artemis Gallery specializes in Classical Antiquities (Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Near Eastern), Asian, Pre-Columbian, African / Tribal / Oceanographic art. Our extensive inventory includes pottery, stone, metal, wood, glass and textil...Read more
Categories
Live Auction in Progress ... Currently on Lot Estimate:
$1,200 - $2,000
Starting Bid
$500
Absentee vs Live bid
Two ways to bid:
- Leave a max absentee bid and the platform will bid on your behalf up to your maximum bid during the live auction.
- Bid live during the auction and your bids will be submitted real-time to the auctioneer.
Bid Increments
| Price | Bid Increment |
|---|---|
| $0 | $25 |
| $300 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $2,500 |
| $50,000 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 | $20,000 |
About Auction
Live
By Artemis Fine Arts
Aug 22, 2025
Set Reminder
2025-08-22 10:00:00
2025-08-22 10:00:00
America/New_York
Bidsquare
Bidsquare : Indigenous Art - Ralph T. Coe Center, Santa Fe, NM
https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/indigenous-art---ralph-t-coe-center-santa-fe-nm-20324
Featuring works of art from the Ralph T. Coe Center for the Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico, a non-profit focused on promoting Indigenous Arts globally. All proceeds from the sale of these items will support future grants to Rehoming Program participants. Artemis Fine Arts info@artemisfinearts.com
Featuring works of art from the Ralph T. Coe Center for the Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico, a non-profit focused on promoting Indigenous Arts globally. All proceeds from the sale of these items will support future grants to Rehoming Program participants. Artemis Fine Arts info@artemisfinearts.com
View Full Catalog (452)
- Lot Description
Oceania, Polynesia, New Zealand, Maori, ca. mid-19th century CE. A pa kahawai trolling lure, an ingenious composite design embodying the adaptive artistry of Maori fishing traditions. The curved wooden shank forms the backbone of the piece, its outer surface smoothed to a dark, time-worn patina, while the inner face gleams with an inlaid panel of paua (abalone) shell whose iridescent flashes would have shimmered enticingly beneath the water's surface. Firmly lashed to the base is a sharply tapered barb carved from animal bone, positioned to strike when a fish lunged for the lure. Meticulously bound with twisted plant fibre and sinnet, the construction employs muka, the prepared flax fibre highly valued by Maori for its strength and resistance to saltwater. In its original working form, this lure would have trailed behind a waka (canoe), the gleam of the shell and the motion of feathers - once affixed at the base - mimicking the flicker and dart of a small fish. Size: 0.75" W x 4" H (1.9 cm x 10.2 cm); 8.6" H (21.8 cm) on included custom stand.
The pa kahawai derives from Polynesian trolling techniques brought to Aotearoa by early Maori voyagers and adapted to the local marine environment, particularly for attracting kahawai (Arripis trutta, or sea salmon). This example reflects both functional ingenuity and aesthetic refinement, its materials and form harmonizing into an object as beautiful as it was effective. Today, such lures are treasured not only as ethnographic artifacts but as enduring symbols of Maori skill, resourcefulness, and deep knowledge of the sea.
Parts from certain animal species including nacre shell may require an additional license upon import into another country due to legislation relating to endangered species and environmental conservation. If you are not sure whether CITES rules apply to your item, please see the CITES Appendices.
Provenance: Ralph T. Coe Center for the Arts, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA, purchased in June 2008; ex-John Kania or Kania Ferrin Gallery, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA; ex-collection of Zane Grey, a famous minor Western novelist and avid fisherman
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
#196125Hook is slightly loose in senit, but, otherwise, intact and excellent with good preservation of detail.Condition
- Shipping Info
-
All shipping is handled in-house for your convenience. Your invoice from Artemis Fine Arts will include shipping calculation instructions. If in doubt, please ask before bidding for estimated shipping costs for individual items.
-
- Buyer's Premium
