Three Maori tiki sell for $US45,600 at Sothebys

Three Maori tiki sell for $US45,600 at Sothebys in New York

Three old Maori greenstone tiki sold for $US45,600 at Sotheby’s auction in New York earlier today.

One 9.2cm long tiki, acquired possibly from Ernest E. Leaning of Auckland before 1932, sold for $us20,400. It’s believed William Engs Dennis of Newport, Rhode Island later bought the tiki off Leaning.

A slightly smaller tiki from a private Australian collection sold for $US16,800.

The third tiki from a private Massachusetts collection went for $US8400.

An 85cm high fine Maori tekoteko gable figure expected to reach up to $US35,000 was passed in. The carving was collected by John Jacobs in the late 19th century while he was a spa owner at Rotorua. It was brought to Australia when he returned to Sydney in 1892.

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