Inanga Jade
18th Century or earlier
Height 3 3/8"
Provenance: Wayne Heathcote, London
Bill Ziff, New York, acquired in 1994
Finely carved, certainly without the use of metal tools, from the inanga variety of New Zealand pounamujade. The head tilts right and turns to its left with large circular eyes, inlays now missing, and large open grinning mouth revealing its teeth and tongue. The arched stylized muscular shoulders gracefully diminish in size, breaking at extended elbow elements with each muscular arm then resting on the thighs. Very smooth surface with rounded edges throughout, the top suspension hole worn through providing evidence of significant age and use.
Inanga Jade
18th Century or earlier
Height 3 3/8"
Provenance: Wayne Heathcote, London
Bill Ziff, New York, acquired in 1994
Finely carved, certainly without the use of metal tools, from the inanga variety of New Zealand pounamujade. The head tilts right and turns to its left with large circular eyes, inlays now missing, and large open grinning mouth revealing its teeth and tongue. The arched stylized muscular shoulders gracefully diminish in size, breaking at extended elbow elements with each muscular arm then resting on the thighs. Very smooth surface with rounded edges throughout, the top suspension hole worn through providing evidence of significant age and use.
