Rare Ngati Tarawhai Carved Fire Surround by Tene Waitere

Tene Waitere (attributed), a superb and rare carved ngati tarawhai fire surround, modelled after a pare (lintel) and Whakawae (supports) from the door frame of a Wharenui, the whakawae with ancestral figural carving as male and female forms, the male holding a patu, each surmounting a wheku head and with inset paua shell eyes. The pare with takarangi spirals and manaia figures centred by a carved bust mounted in high relief with incised ta moko and with inset paua shell eyes. Unusually inscribed with the date 1904 behind the bust. Height 157 cm. Width 94 cm, Roger Neich records three similar fire surrounds in his book on Rotorua ngati tarawhai wood carving carved Histories. All were carved by Tene Waitere, two commissioned by the Nathan family for the grand Hotels in Auckland and Rotorua one for their homestead in Manurewa. Two are in private hands; the latter was destroyed by fire in 1923. Another surround carved by Hare Kopakopa is held in the Auckland Museum collection.