Rare 19th Century Maori Circular Side Table by Menzies

John Henry Menzies, a very rare and important 19th century circular side table, The circular top with kowhaiwhai carving and inscribed: Kia marangaa ake akakamo ko te whatatarei a raa. The frieze pierced and carved with wheku heads, the slender splayed legs pierced and carved with wheku figures, the tongue of each grasped by a three-fingered hand. The legs carved as ancestral figures, each with protruding tongue and hands to abdomen. Inscribed to the underside in Menzies own hand ?Carved by JH Menzies, Menzies Bay, 1874, of Tohi wood, grown on the spit. Maori words on top are Let mine eyelids rest upon the (indecipherable) of my Lady?. John Henry Menzies is known for his famous book Maori Patterns Painted and Carved. He carved and painted a number of church interiors around Christchurch and Akaroa including St Luke?s Church in Little Akaroa. He also made a small number of pieces of furniture, most of which are held by descendants or are in museum collections.