WWII U.S. Navy-Maori Presentation Sculpture

A historical World War II U.S. Navy-Maori carved presentation…
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A historical World War II U.S. Navy-Maori carved presentation sculpture, the stylised standing figure upon a base carved with a mask and two weku figures, paua inset eyes. A presentation plaque affixed to the reverse, 'To Lst-172 From Wish Winn, Whakatane, New Zealand, 3-11-44, Kia Kaha, Kia Toa, Kia Ora'. Note: Lst-172 refers to the Landing Ship Tank 172 of the U.S. Navy, which survived the war, but suffered the tragedy in 1946 of a single crew member murdering nine of his crew mates, this event is listed as one of the period's worst workplace massacres. This presentation piece was gifted from Wish Winn of Whakatane, a menswear shop, presumably receiving substantial patronage from the members Lst-172. It was part of the U.S. Navy contingent that assembled in New Zealand prior to action in the Pacific. Together with an envelope sent by one of the crew members of Lst-172 shortly after the killing of his crew mates.

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