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#1 |
Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: The Sharp end
Posts: 2,928
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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. Last edited by Atlantia; 21st November 2010 at 07:54 PM. |
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#2 |
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: The Sharp end
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Showing the holes and size comparison with sabre.
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#3 |
Keris forum moderator
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Nova Scotia
Posts: 7,101
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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. ![]() |
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#4 |
Keris forum moderator
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Nova Scotia
Posts: 7,101
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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.
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#5 |
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Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,818
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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 |
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#6 |
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: The Sharp end
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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 ![]() Last edited by Atlantia; 21st November 2010 at 09:39 PM. |
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#7 |
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,430
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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.... |
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#8 |
Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 129
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Pipe racks come in two types - bowl down, sitting on a small shelf, and bowl up with the stems sitting through holes...
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