Impressive 18th Century Hei Tiki from Sir David Munro

A superb large and impressive 18th century hei tiki, a good…
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A superb large and impressive 18th century hei tiki, a good example of a large early type II form carved in pale opaque inanga. The head shows a leftward orientation with shallow eye rings forming a wide flat nose and a mouth with tongue and two teeth. The muscular body displays a torso with carved ribs and finely pointed elbows. The flat even verso surface and bevel to the lower legs suggests it was refashioned from an adze. Two concealed countersunk holes to the back of the head and a third broken above the right eye commensurate with age and use. Provenance: formally owned by Sir David Munro (1813 - 1877) speaker of the house of representatives New Zealand. Height 14 cm.

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  • Verso - Verso is the "back" side of a sheet of paper, art work, coin or medal. The front side is "recto".
  • Bevel / Chamfer - In furniture making, a chamfered corner refers to a technique used to create a smooth, angled edge on the corner of a piece of furniture. This is typically done by cutting away a small portion of the corner at an angle, typically 45 degrees, creating a diagonal edge, rather than a sharp 90-degree angle. This technique can be used on various parts of a piece of furniture such as table legs, drawer fronts, or door frames. Chamfering can add visual interest to a piece and can help to soften the overall look of a piece of furniture. It is often used in conjunction with other techniques, such as rounding edges or using contrasting wood species to create a more elegant, sophisticated look. Chamfering is a simple way to add a touch of elegance to a piece of furniture and it is a common technique used by furniture makers.

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