Hei Tiki Gift: A Royal Presentation from New Zealand

A Presentation Hei Tiki Gifted to King Edward VIII. The Hei…
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A Presentation Hei Tiki Gifted to King Edward VIII. The Hei tiki was presented to the then Prince of Wales during a visit to West Harbour, Dunedin, as part of his 1920 royal tour of New Zealand and the greater commonwealth. He received a grand welcome with local school children, returned serviceman and the Salvation Army band taking part in the ceremonies. In making the presentation, Mr Moller said: Your Royal Highness, On behalf of the people of West Harbour, I tender you a genuine and loyal welcome'. We give place to no one in our loyalty to the Empire. We notice with pride that you hold the title of Duke of Rothesay. To-night you are in Rothesay Ward of our borough. Our address of welcome was incorporated with those you received this afternoon in' Dunedin City, but I ask you to accept this Maori tiki, bearing your crest, with an appropriate inscription, from the. residents of West Harbour, just to remind you in years to come that you visited our little district.' The Hei tiki is carved from the rare bowenite variety of Pounamu, displaying high chatoyant translucency with rich flecking. Hei tiki are uncommon in this stone which is sourced from the Milford area and are highly prized. The figure has its chin resting on its left shoulder and hand clasping on the knees. The facial features and hands are carved in shallow relief with red sealing wax applied to accentuate the eyes. Adorning the torso is a gold plaque that sits beneath the crest for the prince of Wales which is also in gold. The engraved plaque reads 'To His Royal Highness The/Prince of Wales From Residents of West Harbour New Zealand 18-5-20'. At the top of the head is a pierced suspension hole with gold loop. With the original fitted presentation case with green velvet exterior and cream coloured velvet interior. Hei tiki height 85 mm, width 60 mm. Presentation box height 20 mm, width 111 mm, depth 90 mm. Y 22221. Provenance: Gifted from Mayor Mr H. Moller, West Harbour, New Zealand on 18 May 1920, to H.R.H. Edward, Prince of Wales, later King Edward VIII and, after 1937, The Duke of Windsor. Presumably by gift to his sister, H.R.H. The Princess Mary, Princess Royal, Countess of harewood (1897-1965) and by descent at Harewood House, Yorkshire. Released from Harewood House estate to a private collection held in America 2012. Repatriated to New Zealand, 2022. Private Collection. The Prince Of Wales, Otago Daily Times, Issue 17939, 19 May 1920, Page 5, At Ravensbourne. Otago Witness, Issue 3454, 25 May 1920, Page 22

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  • Edward Viii - Edward VIII (1894 ? 1972) was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth, and Emperor of India, from 20 January 1936 until his abdication to marry American socialite Wallis Simpson on 11 December 1936.
  • Harewood - Harewood is a fine-grained, dense, and light-coloured wood that comes from the sycamore tree, a type of maple tree, that has been dyed silvery grey with iron oxide. The wood is highly prized for its beautiful appearance and its durability, which makes it ideal for use in furniture making, cabinetry, and decorative objects.

    The wood has a pale colour with a slight pinkish or reddish hue, and it has a very smooth surface that can be easily polished to a high shine. The wood has a straight grain that is sometimes slightly wavy, and it has a fine, uniform texture.

    Harewood is often used for inlay work or as a decorative veneer on furniture, where its subtle grain pattern and pale color can create a beautiful contrast with other darker woods. It is also used for making musical instruments such as pianos, as its density and fine grain can produce a rich, clear sound.
  • Bowenite - Bowenite is a semi-precious stone, usually light or dark green, but also found in colors ranging from light yellow, canary yellow, brown, blue and gray. One of the largest deposits is in the South Island of New Zealand, where it was used for tools, weapons and jewellery by the Maori, and known as greenstone and tangiwai. Other deposits are in South Africa and China.

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