He was one of 13 rangatira to sign a letter addressed to William IV in 1831 that sought the king’s protection against the French and led to the Treaty of Waitangi on February 12, 1840.
He died in September 1862 and is buried at the Williams Memorial Church in Paihia.
More recently this 3in (7cm) green nephrite tiki was inherited by the vendor from an uncle who had owned an antiques shop in Gloucester in the 1950s-60s. He had bought it in 1959 for £10.
At Mallams (25% buyer’s premium) in Cheltenham it carried the accessible guide of £600-800 but found many admirers, ultimately selling at £30,000.
Entrance made
Gothic arched oak door – £8200 at Mallams.
A Gothic arched oak door, probably dating from the 14th or 15th century, which featured original battens to one side, iron engraved straps and exposed iron nailheads, also attracted a huge amount of interest. The hammer eventually fell at £8200 from an internet bidder, against a top estimate of £4000.
Ivory inlaid rosewood Anglo-Indian table – £6800 at Mallams.
An ivory inlaid rosewood Anglo-Indian table was another top-performing item, selling online for £6800 against what was a very conservative estimate of £200-400.
Probably dating from the early 19th century (the top may have been earlier), it featured a floral design ivory inlay to the top, crossbanded frieze with drawer and a barley-twist stretcher.
Overall this Country House sale made £114,000, almost double the low estimate.
