Lot 55: Gottfried Lindauer 1839 - 1926 - Chief &

Gottfried Lindauer 1839 - 1926 - Chief & Chieftainess of Ngatai - Rauare - A Pair Oil on canvas each 85.0 x 66.5 Signed & dated 1884 Provenance: Featured p. 16 & 17 NZ Early & Rare, International Art Centre, Auckland, 1972 Chief Ngatai: In this handsome portrait, a male member of the Ngatai family of Tauranga is traditionally garbed in hand woven feathered cloak. He displays the feathers of the soon to be extinct Huia bird and a precious pounamu ear pendant, symbols indicative of his status. The beautifully crafted mere, firmly held in his right hand is both a treasured heirloom and lethal weapon, usually possessed by chiefs of the highest standing. As with the companion portrait Chieftainess Ngatai, a gold band of European design is also worn. Chieftainess Ngatai: The subject of this exceedingly fine portrait is thought to be Chieftainess Ngatai, third wife or sister, of Chief Hori Ngatai of the Wairarapa Manawatu region. A defender of Gate Pa, in later years Hori Ngatai peacefully led his tribe in the adoption of farming at Whareroa, becoming the largest grower of wheat and maize in the Tauranga region. In this full frontal portrait, the Chieftainess sports a ta moko or lip and chin tattoo. Her hair is adorned with Huia feathers and she wears ear pendants of greenstone and sharks tooth denoting rank. Draped in a finely woven cloak or korowai she wears a highly prized greenstone hei-tiki around her neck. The hei-tiki, a symbol of fertility and good luck, is thought by many to be endowed with magical powers. Interestingly a gold ring, of obvious European design is also worn. Whether the association be by blood or marriage, the inherent nobility of these companion subjects, so powerfully portrayed by Lindauer is unmistakable. The works of Gottfried Lindauer have long been acknowledged as amongst the best known and most popular paintings of Maori in New Zealand. Lindauer, born in Bohemia in 1839 travelled to Vienna in 1855 where he received formal training as a portrait painter. Emigrating to New Zealand in 1873, the artist soon secured the notable patronage of both Sir Walter Buller, a judge in the Maori Land Court and Auckland businessman Henry Partridge. Over the next thirty years Partridge commissioned many portraits and depictions of Maori life. In 1915 the Partridge Collection was donated to Auckland City Art Gallery.