A painting marketed as an original 1917 work by Charles Frederick Goldie, titled Lost in Thought, Ngāheke, An Arawa Chieftain, has been withdrawn from sale following skepticism regarding its authenticity. Despite an estimated price tag of $420,000, art experts and iwi representatives have questioned the work’s legitimacy.
Authenticity Doubts and Expert Scrutiny
The painting, which resurfaced for sale after reportedly disappearing from records following its 1917 exhibition, was promoted by NZ Art Broker as a previously unrecognised
work. However, the work’s entry into the market sparked pushback from the art community. Some experts claim the painting is an imitation of a Goldie portrait and not an original work by one of the country’s most famous artists.
The Role of Tūhourangi and Cultural Rights
Beyond the technical debate, the painting’s history involves the Te Arawa iwi Tūhourangi. The subject was identified as Patara Te Ngūngūkai, a renowned Te Arawa tohunga responsible for preparing human bones following exhumation for reburial. Kirikowhai Mikaere, chair of the Tūhourangi Tribal Authority, confirmed that the iwi was contacted years ago by an Australian estate seeking information about the tūpuna, only to be surprised by the work’s sudden appearance at auction.
The situation highlights a persistent tension regarding the commercialization of Māori tūpuna. While the painting has been withdrawn, the broader issue of intellectual property remains unresolved. Under current New Zealand law, rights to an image generally belong to the artist, and these protections expire 50 years after the artist’s death. This places Goldie’s works—and the depictions of the Māori subjects within them—in the public domain.
“It’s a beautiful portrait and [there’s] an appreciation for the artwork, the genius of the artist and the depiction of our koroua. But on the other hand, that image being taken and sold for other people’s gain is always a challenging dilemma.”
Kirikowhai Mikaere, chair of Tūhourangi Tribal Authority, via The Spinoff
Mikaere noted that while some Māori choose to protest such sales, others attempt to purchase the images to protect them. However, with an asking price of $420,000, the iwi found the work financially out of reach. For now, the focus has shifted from the auction block to the narrative of the subject himself.
Legal Context
As the market for these works continues to fluctuate, the government is considering updates to the Copyright Act, which has remained largely unchanged since 1994. While potential amendments to extend copyright terms are on the horizon due to international trade obligations, legal experts like Lynell Tuffery Huria of Kāhui Legal emphasize that these changes do little to address the specific cultural concerns of descendants whose ancestors are featured in such works.
Sources: thepost.co.nz.
Sources: Thespinoff.
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