124 Another example associated with Little from the Skinner Collection at Puke Arike is a squatting fi gure with scrollwork identical to that of the above-mentioned group (fi g. 18). A strikingly similar squatting fi gure resides in the British Museum (fi g. 17) and was unconvincingly attributed to “Rupuko” by D. R. Simmons, according to a label still attached to the object, though the BM now attributes it to Little. Despite its general resemblance to Little’s work, the scrolls of the British Museum fi gure are more structured than what we know of Little’s work, and a white New Zealander carving in the Maori style at around the same time, James Robieson,13 might be a more likely attribution. Unlike Little, Robieson had actual knowledge of Maori culture and his carvings are far more credible. According to Terence Barrow, they are characterized by heavy surface decoration usually formed by parallel grooves, straight or curved, with dogtooth notches set between the lines.14 The affi nity between these fi gures raises interesting questions. Though seemingly not by the same hand, either one is based on the other or they are based on a shared prototype. Beyond this apparent relationship, Little may even have sold some of Robieson’s work, a possibility somewhat strengthened by the fact that the New Zealander resided in the UK between the wars. In fact, many works by Robieson have been attributed to Little erroneously, including an elaborate wahaika that was also purchased by Skinner and is in the Puke Ariki collection15 and quite possibly a number of large covered bowls supported by fi gures, an example of which is in the British Museum (fi g. 19). Roger Neich attributed these to Little, but stylistically they seem far closer to Robieson’s work. Beasley, Oldman, and Fuller make no mention of Robieson, but work associated with him does appear in Wellcome contexts. However, Webster was well aware of his activities and stated in response to a 1966 query from C.C.Legge, “Little was not the most prolifi c forger. There was one Robieson operating for many years before the last war FIG. 14 (above): Kenneth Webster (1906–1967) beside Te Hau Ki Turanga Meeting House. Photo by Frank O’Leary, 1959. Courtesy of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, neg.no.B9466. FIG. 15 (below): Feeding funnel in the Maori style, attributed to Edward Little. England. Early 20th century. Wood. H: 11.2 cm. W. H. Skinner Collection, Puke Ariki Museum, New Plymouth, A94.700. FIG. 16 (below right): Cylindrical box and cover in the Maori style, attributed to Edward Little. England. Early 20th century. Wood, shell. H: 10 cm. W. H. Skinner Collection, Puke Ariki Museum, New Plymouth, A94.702. FIG. 13 (below): Standing fi gure in the Maori style, attributed to Edward Little. England. Early 20th century. Wood, shell. H: 24 cm. W. H. Skinner Collection, Puke Ariki Museum, New Plymouth, A94.706. FIG. 12 (above): Bottom of a box in the Maori style, attributed to Edward Little. England. Early 20th century. Wood, shell. L: 26 cm. W. H. Skinner Collection, Puke Ariki Museum, New Plymouth, A76.811. The distressed base is similar to the surface of the implement in fi g. 29.
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