19th Century Tiheru Canoe Bailer with Carvings

A fine rare 19th century Tiheru ( canoe bailer), with tapering scoop fully carved to the underside with pakati and haehae designs. The handle carved as two parallel bars terminating in a wheku head. Probably made from Kaikawaka (NZ cedar) due to its light weight and buoyancy. Bailers of this type were typically used on smaller waka on costal and inland waterways. Another almost identical example from the East cape dating from 1850 is held in the collection of the British Museum. Illustrated in 'Taonga Maori in the British Museum' by Roger Neich and Mick Pendergrast (plate 18, number 85). A further similar undecorated example from the Merton Simpson collection c.1850 was sold by Webb's auction house in November 2010. This taonga was recently repatriated from America. 42 cm length.