Taiaha, finally!!!

Gavin Nugent · 30th September 2010, 02:19 PM

For me it has been the month of long things.

I am please to say I finally found and secured a Taiaha I am happy to keep in my collections.
It has been a long time coming with a very long search to balance price and quality but patience is rewarding (sometimes).
If I was being fussy

, the only improvment I would want on one would be the inlay to the eye sockets and feathers to the top, though for me the size at 172cms long and with such a dark earthly patina, I'm stoked!!

Images from the auction.

Enjoy

Gav

Tim Simmons · 30th September 2010, 02:57 PM

What can one say ! Old too. You wicked wicked man to taunt us so.

Just great.

VANDOO · 30th September 2010, 05:07 PM

CONGRADULATIONS ON A VERY NICE OLD ONE. THESE ARE A PLEASURE TO HANDLE AND FEEL GOOD AND BALANCE WELL IN HAND. JUST BE CAREFUL AND DON'T GET CARRIED AWAY AS YOU MIGHT PUT A DING IN SOMETHING ACCIDENTALLY

IT TOOK ME MANY YEARS BEFORE I COULD AQUIRE ONE FOR MY COLLECTION. THERE MAY HAVE BEEN MORE IN AUSTRALIA AS ITS A LOT NEARER THE SOURCE THAN OKLAHOMA.

YOUR EXAMPLE DOES APPEAR TO HAVE HAD PUA SHELL INLAY IN THE EYES AND IT IS NOT DIFFICULT TO FIND ROUNDS OF PUA SHELL FOR SALE SO SHOULD BE FAIRLY EASY TO REPLACE IF YOU WANT. BUT IT IS JUST GREAT AS IS. I HAVE SEEN A FEW CLUBS WHERE RED SEALING WAX WAS USED AROUND THE EYES BUT THAT IS MOSTLY SEEN ON THE HEI TIKI.

fearn · 30th September 2010, 08:00 PM

Congratulations, that's an excellent piece. Are you going to learn to do the haka with it

Best,

F

Battara · 1st October 2010, 02:52 AM

What a nice piece. Congratulations! Yes, I am in the restoration camp.

Ron Anderson · 1st October 2010, 03:31 AM

Gav

Very nice. That is a keeper, for sure.

Gavin Nugent · 1st October 2010, 02:31 PM

Thanks Chaps,

There was a phrase used some time back that caused a lot of questions and I can use it now, "I'm chuffed"

I don't think I'll have it with me before I go to Bali at the end of the month but when in hand I'll share some of the finer detail.
I'm currently organising a custom elevated stand for it with a manufacturer and it will no doubt take pride and place amongst the other keepers.
Plenty of room in the back yard for a quick twirl too...just need to consider the dogs and kids though...despite either never letting me rest I do want to keep them around

I'll make some cardboard blanks for the eyes and see if I can have a Hawaiian carver commision me some...then I'll need to look at a non-permanent non-intrusive or destructive methods of sitting them in the sockets...but as you note Vandoo, it does just look fine the way it is...
What I am really hoping for it legible faint remains of script left on the two collector/museum tags seen in the images...fingers crossed.

Thanks again

Gav

30th September 2010, 02:19 PM	#1
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	Taiaha, finally!!! For me it has been the month of long things. I am please to say I finally found and secured a Taiaha I am happy to keep in my collections. It has been a long time coming with a very long search to balance price and quality but patience is rewarding (sometimes). If I was being fussy , the only improvment I would want on one would be the inlay to the eye sockets and feathers to the top, though for me the size at 172cms long and with such a dark earthly patina, I'm stoked!! Images from the auction. Enjoy Gav Attached Images Last edited by freebooter; 30th September 2010 at 03:59 PM.

1st October 2010, 02:31 PM	#7
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	Thanks Chaps Thanks Chaps, There was a phrase used some time back that caused a lot of questions and I can use it now, "I'm chuffed" I don't think I'll have it with me before I go to Bali at the end of the month but when in hand I'll share some of the finer detail. I'm currently organising a custom elevated stand for it with a manufacturer and it will no doubt take pride and place amongst the other keepers. Plenty of room in the back yard for a quick twirl too...just need to consider the dogs and kids though...despite either never letting me rest I do want to keep them around I'll make some cardboard blanks for the eyes and see if I can have a Hawaiian carver commision me some...then I'll need to look at a non-permanent non-intrusive or destructive methods of sitting them in the sockets...but as you note Vandoo, it does just look fine the way it is... What I am really hoping for it legible faint remains of script left on the two collector/museum tags seen in the images...fingers crossed. Thanks again Gav

30th September 2010, 02:57 PM	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	What can one say ! Old too. You wicked wicked man to taunt us so. Just great.

30th September 2010, 05:07 PM	#3
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	CONGRADULATIONS ON A VERY NICE OLD ONE. THESE ARE A PLEASURE TO HANDLE AND FEEL GOOD AND BALANCE WELL IN HAND. JUST BE CAREFUL AND DON'T GET CARRIED AWAY AS YOU MIGHT PUT A DING IN SOMETHING ACCIDENTALLY IT TOOK ME MANY YEARS BEFORE I COULD AQUIRE ONE FOR MY COLLECTION. THERE MAY HAVE BEEN MORE IN AUSTRALIA AS ITS A LOT NEARER THE SOURCE THAN OKLAHOMA. YOUR EXAMPLE DOES APPEAR TO HAVE HAD PUA SHELL INLAY IN THE EYES AND IT IS NOT DIFFICULT TO FIND ROUNDS OF PUA SHELL FOR SALE SO SHOULD BE FAIRLY EASY TO REPLACE IF YOU WANT. BUT IT IS JUST GREAT AS IS. I HAVE SEEN A FEW CLUBS WHERE RED SEALING WAX WAS USED AROUND THE EYES BUT THAT IS MOSTLY SEEN ON THE HEI TIKI.

30th September 2010, 08:00 PM	#4
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	Congratulations, that's an excellent piece. Are you going to learn to do the haka with it Best, F

1st October 2010, 02:52 AM	#5
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,219	What a nice piece. Congratulations! Yes, I am in the restoration camp.

1st October 2010, 03:31 AM	#6
Ron Anderson Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 228	Gav Very nice. That is a keeper, for sure.