MAORI CHIEFTAIN'S CLOAK

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23705, 12 January 1939, Page 10

MAORI CHIEFTAIN'S CLOAK

AUCTIONED AT SOTHEBY'S SOLITARY BID OF £3 <From Our Own Correspondent) (By Air Mail) LONDON, Dec. 21. A solitary bid of £3 bought a valuable kiwi feather korowai, once worn by a Maori chieftain, at Sotheby's yesterday. This krowai, or cloak, had been acquired from a member of the staff of the Auckland Museum by Major G. Byron, military secretary to the GovernorGeneral (Lord Galway), for Mrs P. Winter, of Penbury, Kent. After owning it for three months, she decided to sell it rather than run the risk of its being destroyed by moth* during her absences from England. Tacked by drawing pins on a scrim-covered wall at Sotheby's, this Maori v/ork of art hung, ticketed "Lot 234," while Native spearheads, drums, Assyrian stone beads and busts were sold under the light tap of the auctioneer's hammer. Not more than a score of buyers were present, several of them dark, swart foreigners, with long overcoats nearly reaching to their ankles. They clustered round a small green baize, horseshoeshaped table, raising th bidding by hand signs and nods of the head. A quiet-voiced, dapper auctioneer offered lot after lot, in a conversational voice, from his elegantlypolished oak nostrum, the microphone before him being totally unnecessary on this occasion. By his side, an elderly grey-haired clerk, seated at a high-railed desk, silently marked the price of each lot as it was tapped down to the highest bidder.

The kiwi cloak was the last lot offered. During dispirited bidding for a native war drum, it was taken down from the dull, brown wall. Before being offered, it was bundled round from hand to hand at the horseshoe table. Only one man scanned it with any attention. "How much for this lot?" asked the auctioneer, still in. his conversational murmur. "Will anybody start the bidding for it? The sum of £3 is offered: Are there any further offers?"

There were none. Tap went the wooden hammer, striking the oaken desk lightly, and the Maori chieftain's cloak, once insured for £SO in Auckland, became the property of an agent, who was buying on behalf of a client. He disappeared quickly through the swing door of the small room within a few seconds of the sale's ending. The cloak was bundled unceremoniously into a bulging roll and olaced on a glass coin case, next to headless Egyptian statues, an ancient Roman olive jar, and mouldering spearheads, there to await instructions for delivery to its new owner.