NZ Maori connection treen rack mystery

Atlantia · 21st November 2010, 08:43 PM

Here's a bit of a puzzle!
Saw this
Beautiful treen rack carved from earlier oak reused timbers, with the famous line from the marching song of the 28th Maori Battalion: 'Ake ake kiakaha': "For ever and ever be strong".
Thought this meant a military connection, but having bought it and looked into it a little further 'St Laurence Northfield' seems to be in the midlands/England. 1909 seems too early and the motto more widely used anyway!
Its a massive rack and I did think I could modify it to house daggers, but I'm thinking I should ID it before I consider hacking it at all. I know the military link is looking tenuous now, but any thoughts would be appreciated.
Guess it might be for pipes, but its huge!

If nothing else it'll make a great rack for small jabby things.

Atlantia · 21st November 2010, 08:47 PM

Showing the holes and size comparison with sabre.

David · 21st November 2010, 09:35 PM

You have presented a good mystery here Gene. I've been googling like crazy over this.

One thing that comes up for St. Laurence, Northfield in 1909 is that they started their first scouting troop there. I don't see how that connects to "Ake ake kiakaha" though. There do seem to be some Rugby connections to the time and motto, but nor to Northfield. The best clue might be found if we can ID the logo in the center that looks like the initials C.H.H. It looks so familiar for some reason, but i can't place it.

David · 21st November 2010, 09:36 PM

I do hope that when you mentioned "hacking" this piece you were not suggesting cutting into it to adapt it as a knife rack. That would seem a shame to me.

Gavin Nugent · 21st November 2010, 09:43 PM

An interesting bit of history.

Another factor to consider is the representation of the snakes, rather unusual I thought since they have no snakes in NZ, so under what influence did these appear.

Gav

Atlantia · 21st November 2010, 10:24 PM

David,

Thanks mate, appreciate your help. It's a strange thing isn't it?
As for hacking it.... I'm thinking twice, it's really growing on me as-is!
I think it'll make a cracking shelf for odds 'n' bobs

Very heavily waxed, lovely patination.
The monogram is odd, C.H with two extra bars that don't seem to be connected. You think it's another H?

Gav,

Good point about the snakes!
If we could definately ID the use it might help. The holes are just big enough for your little finger.
Must be pipes, surely?
If it wasn't that nobody considered smoking unhealthy back then I'd think that the snakes represented temptation and the motto was to stay strong while abstaining?

Here's a better pic:

Thanks guys

colin henshaw · 26th November 2010, 12:33 PM

Hi

I can't really add anything about this unusual piece. The incorporation of snake motifs is a bit intriguing...snakes seem to have excited human imagination throughout history, in mythology and folklore. Had a look at the excellent British Museum exhibition "The Book of the Dead" recently, and snakes featured prominently in Ancient Egyptian culture, both as negative and positive forces....

Billman · 2nd December 2010, 01:45 PM

Pipe racks come in two types - bowl down, sitting on a small shelf, and bowl up with the stems sitting through holes...

21st November 2010, 08:43 PM	#1
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	NZ Maori connection treen rack mystery Here's a bit of a puzzle! Saw this Beautiful treen rack carved from earlier oak reused timbers, with the famous line from the marching song of the 28th Maori Battalion: 'Ake ake kiakaha': "For ever and ever be strong". Thought this meant a military connection, but having bought it and looked into it a little further 'St Laurence Northfield' seems to be in the midlands/England. 1909 seems too early and the motto more widely used anyway! Its a massive rack and I did think I could modify it to house daggers, but I'm thinking I should ID it before I consider hacking it at all. I know the military link is looking tenuous now, but any thoughts would be appreciated. Guess it might be for pipes, but its huge! If nothing else it'll make a great rack for small jabby things. Attached Images Last edited by Atlantia; 21st November 2010 at 08:54 PM.

21st November 2010, 08:47 PM	#2
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	Showing the holes and size comparison with sabre. Attached Images

21st November 2010, 09:43 PM	#5
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	Interesting An interesting bit of history. Another factor to consider is the representation of the snakes, rather unusual I thought since they have no snakes in NZ, so under what influence did these appear. Gav

21st November 2010, 10:24 PM	#6
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	David, Thanks mate, appreciate your help. It's a strange thing isn't it? As for hacking it.... I'm thinking twice, it's really growing on me as-is! I think it'll make a cracking shelf for odds 'n' bobs Very heavily waxed, lovely patination. The monogram is odd, C.H with two extra bars that don't seem to be connected. You think it's another H? Gav, Good point about the snakes! If we could definately ID the use it might help. The holes are just big enough for your little finger. Must be pipes, surely? If it wasn't that nobody considered smoking unhealthy back then I'd think that the snakes represented temptation and the motto was to stay strong while abstaining? Here's a better pic: Thanks guys Attached Images Last edited by Atlantia; 21st November 2010 at 10:39 PM.

21st November 2010, 09:35 PM	#3
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,123	You have presented a good mystery here Gene. I've been googling like crazy over this. One thing that comes up for St. Laurence, Northfield in 1909 is that they started their first scouting troop there. I don't see how that connects to "Ake ake kiakaha" though. There do seem to be some Rugby connections to the time and motto, but nor to Northfield. The best clue might be found if we can ID the logo in the center that looks like the initials C.H.H. It looks so familiar for some reason, but i can't place it.

21st November 2010, 09:36 PM	#4
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,123	I do hope that when you mentioned "hacking" this piece you were not suggesting cutting into it to adapt it as a knife rack. That would seem a shame to me.

26th November 2010, 12:33 PM	#7
colin henshaw Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,430	Hi I can't really add anything about this unusual piece. The incorporation of snake motifs is a bit intriguing...snakes seem to have excited human imagination throughout history, in mythology and folklore. Had a look at the excellent British Museum exhibition "The Book of the Dead" recently, and snakes featured prominently in Ancient Egyptian culture, both as negative and positive forces....

2nd December 2010, 01:45 PM	#8
Billman Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 129	Pipe racks come in two types - bowl down, sitting on a small shelf, and bowl up with the stems sitting through holes...