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Overview
This tokotoko (walking stick) displays features associated with the Victorian-era New Zealand carver Jacob Heberley (1850-1906). The head of the upper naturalistic male figure extends into the curve of the handle. As is typical of Heberley's work, the head bears a very finely detailed moko (tattoo) and has neat pāua (large New Zealand abalone with blue-green inner shell) shell inlaid eyes with wooden pupils intact. Below the male figure is another elaborately carved large head, again bearing a full facial moko, which curves up into a topknot that becomes the base of the upper figure. Below the large head is a fully carved female figure that also bears a full-facial moko (tattoo) and body tattoo cupping her breasts with her long fingers. Her figure extends down the shaft where it surmounts another head bearing a fully carved facial tattoo.
Finely balanced
The whole surface area of the tokotoko above the first head is covered in haehae (parallel grooves) and pākati (dog tooth pattern) notches extending into whakarere (distorted) and rauru patterns to enhance the object. (Rauru are rauponga - an alternating pattern of pākati notches and haehae - when used as a spiral. The design is possibly named after Rauru, who is sometimes credited with being the first carver.) The carving on the tokotoko is finely balanced and aesthetically pleasing to suit the tastes of Heberley's mainly European clientele, which included influential local businessmen and politicians as well as visiting royalty.