A Maori wood tinder box

A Maori wood tinder box, rectangular with allover carved with linear and notched designs, the ends with tiki heads on open supports, the cover with a further tiki head with extending tongue, all heads with shell inlaid eyes, 27cm long.

Provenance -

By repute George Marsden Waterhouse (1824 - 1906) and thence by descent.

George Marsden Waterhouse was born in Penzance, Cornwall and emigrated with his family to Hobart, Australia in 1839. His father the Rev John Waterhouse was general superintendent of the Wesleyan Missions in Australia and Polynesia. George's merchant career placed him politics where he rose to the premier of South Australia from 1861 - 1863, returning to England and then to New Zealand in 1869. Again involving himself in politics and becoming the premier between 1872 - 1873.

Sir Ellis Kirkham Waterhouse (1905 - 1985) Art historian, director of National Galleries of Scotland and held the Barber chair at Birmingham University.

c.f. Pitt Rivers Museum, Oxford. A kiwi feather cloak (1969.12.1) donated by Sir Ellis K Waterhouse, originally belonging to his great uncle, George Marsden Waterhouse.