War Canoe Sternpost (taurapa)
- Artist Culture
- Maori artist
- Date
- probably early to mid-19th century
- Material
- Wood
- made in
- New Zealand, Oceania
- Classification
- Sculpture
- Current Location
- On View, Gallery 109
- Dimensions
- 22 1/4 x 56 1/2 in. (56.5 x 143.5 cm)
- Credit Line
- Bequest of Morton D. May
- Rights
- Contact Us
- Object Number
- 1531:1983
NOTES
When carving war canoe "taurapa" (sternposts) such as this, Maori artists adhered to a standard composition. A "manaia," a beaked figure in profile representing a guardian spirit, appears near the top holding two ribs cascading downward. A second "manaia" is visible in profile on the base, directly below the place where the ribs end. A small human figure rests against the inner base of the sternpost that would have faced the canoe. Alternating openwork spirals and small "manaia" figures fill the intervening space. When the canoe was not in use, the sternpost and other decorative elements were removed and stored. These elaborately carved pieces were frequently sold to collectors.
Provenance
1929 - 1977
James Thomas Hooper (1897-1971), England, acquired in Arbroath, Scotland; Estate of James Thomas Hooper [1]
1977 - 1983
Morton D. May (1914-1983), St. Louis, MO, USA, purchased at auction of “Hawaiian and Maori Art from the James Hooper Collection,” Christie, Manson and Woods, London, June 21, 1977, lot no. 121 [2]
1983 -
Saint Louis Art Museum, bequest of Morton D. May [3]
Notes:
[1] This object was No. 41 in the Hooper Collection [Phelps, Steven. Art and Artefacts of the Pacific, Africa and the Americas: The James Hooper Collection. London: Hutchinson and Company, 1976]. The corresponding description identified that Hooper acquired this object in Arbroath, Scotland in 1929. It was included in the 1977 auction of the Hooper Collection [“Hawaiian and Maori Art from the James Hooper Collection,” Christie, Manson and Woods, London, June 21, 1977, lot no. 21]. In an email dated February 22, 2012 from Steven Hooper to Amy Clark of the Saint Louis Art Museum, Hooper stated “after my grandfather died in 1971 the entire collection belonged to his estate, “The Estate of James Thomas Hooper,” until items were sold at the series of auctions.” [copy of email in SLAM document files].
[2] See Note [1]. An invoice dated June 21, 1977 from Christie, Manson and Woods to Morton D. May documents the purchase of this object [May Archives, Saint Louis Art Museum].
[3] Last Will and Testament of M. D. May dated June 11, 1982 [copy, May Archives, Saint Louis Art Museum]. Minutes of the Acquisitions and Loans Committee of the Board of Trustees, Saint Louis Art Museum, September 20, 1983.
James Thomas Hooper (1897-1971), England, acquired in Arbroath, Scotland; Estate of James Thomas Hooper [1]
1977 - 1983
Morton D. May (1914-1983), St. Louis, MO, USA, purchased at auction of “Hawaiian and Maori Art from the James Hooper Collection,” Christie, Manson and Woods, London, June 21, 1977, lot no. 121 [2]
1983 -
Saint Louis Art Museum, bequest of Morton D. May [3]
Notes:
[1] This object was No. 41 in the Hooper Collection [Phelps, Steven. Art and Artefacts of the Pacific, Africa and the Americas: The James Hooper Collection. London: Hutchinson and Company, 1976]. The corresponding description identified that Hooper acquired this object in Arbroath, Scotland in 1929. It was included in the 1977 auction of the Hooper Collection [“Hawaiian and Maori Art from the James Hooper Collection,” Christie, Manson and Woods, London, June 21, 1977, lot no. 21]. In an email dated February 22, 2012 from Steven Hooper to Amy Clark of the Saint Louis Art Museum, Hooper stated “after my grandfather died in 1971 the entire collection belonged to his estate, “The Estate of James Thomas Hooper,” until items were sold at the series of auctions.” [copy of email in SLAM document files].
[2] See Note [1]. An invoice dated June 21, 1977 from Christie, Manson and Woods to Morton D. May documents the purchase of this object [May Archives, Saint Louis Art Museum].
[3] Last Will and Testament of M. D. May dated June 11, 1982 [copy, May Archives, Saint Louis Art Museum]. Minutes of the Acquisitions and Loans Committee of the Board of Trustees, Saint Louis Art Museum, September 20, 1983.