Maori carved wood tobacco pipe by Thomas Heberley
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
early 20th century
This early 20th-century tobacco pipe is a fine example of Maori wood carving, attributed to the master carver Thomas Heberley (1876–1937) of Aotearoa, New Zealand.
The pipe features a bowl intricately carved with double tane figures depicted in a prone position, characterized by raised elbows, with one hand resting on the hip and the other grasping the tongue. The expressive faces of the figures are embellished with inset paua shell. The pipe is fitted with an 18-carat gold rim stamped 'Christeson', adding a refined finish to the wooden construction. It includes a curved bakelite stem finished with traditional muka binding at the mouthpiece.
With a total length of 15 cm, the object is registered under the New Zealand Protected Objects Act (1975) as a cultural taonga, reflecting its significance in the decorative arts. The combination of indigenous carving techniques, precious metalwork, and industrial materials like bakelite captures a unique intersection of craftsmanship in the early 1900s.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Physical characteristics
- Length
- 15 cm
- Material
- wood, paua shell, bakelite, 18ct gold
Technical characteristics
- Marks
- rim stamped 'Christeson'
Design
- Motif
- double tane figures
- Ornamentation
- paua shell embellishments
Identification
- Source note
- Described from a single auction-house listing published on Invaluable (reproduced with Invaluable's permission). Details apply to that one example; other examples of the type may differ, and the listing is supplementary evidence, not authentication.
- Maker named in listing
- Thomas Heberley
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.