Null A RARE WHALE BONE MAORI TAIAHA 19TH CENTURY the slender tinana (body) flatt…
Description

A RARE WHALE BONE MAORI TAIAHA 19TH CENTURY the slender tinana (body) flattened at one end with a smooth blade or rau, the finely carved upoko (head) with a face on each side both inlaid with pāua shell eyes and a protruding arero (tongue) carved in spirals, parrallel grooves and dog tooth pattern notches; unknown carver 147 cm long PROVENANCE:The Collection of the Late George Withers (1946-2023) NOTE: The taiaha is traditional Maori weapon most commonly found in wood but also more rarely in whale bone. Used ‘hand to hand’ it’s use as a parrying and striking weapon was synonymous with traditional forms of Maori combat. More commonly seen in whale bone is the kotiate (short hand club) Please note: if you are purchasing this lot it will require CITES certification to export it from the UK to a foreign country as it contains organic material. It is the purchaser’s responsibility to research shipping restrictions and to apply for any certifications required.

A RARE WHALE BONE MAORI TAIAHA 19TH CENTURY the slender tinana (body) flattened at one end with a smooth blade or rau, the finely carved upoko (head) with a face on each side both inlaid with pāua shell eyes and a protruding arero (tongue) carved in spirals, parrallel grooves and dog tooth pattern notches; unknown carver 147 cm long PROVENANCE:The Collection of the Late George Withers (1946-2023) NOTE: The taiaha is traditional Maori weapon most commonly found in wood but also more rarely in whale bone. Used ‘hand to hand’ it’s use as a parrying and striking weapon was synonymous with traditional forms of Maori combat. More commonly seen in whale bone is the kotiate (short hand club) Please note: if you are purchasing this lot it will require CITES certification to export it from the UK to a foreign country as it contains organic material. It is the purchaser’s responsibility to research shipping restrictions and to apply for any certifications required.

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Club Taiaha Maori Wood, pigments, feathers, plant fibers Height: 166 cm Provenance: Private collection, Vancouver Private collection, Vancouver French private collection Distinguished by its exceptionally well-preserved feather ornament, this two-handed taiaha club is a marvellous embodiment of the Maori artistic tradition, where the practice of art majestically converges with that of war. Legend has it that the god of war ???? commissioned ??????????????????????????, the weapon-maker to the gods, to create the most powerful weapon in the world. Thus was created Akerautangi, the father of all taiaha. This work corresponds to the classic ethetics of taiaha clubs, as described by Augustus Hamilton in 1896: "rau, the flat, smooth blade; tinana, the rounded-section handle; upoko, the sculpted human head - the shape of which is listed by H.D Skinner as "classic" ("The Two-Handed Clubs of the Maoris", 1918), the face featuring two circular eyes with black pupils, one of which retains the mother-of-pearl inlay of the paua shell; and arero, the pointed tip carved into a stylized, oversized tongue, adorned with scroll-like relief motifs. Evoking the defiant gesture of Maori warriors, the tongue motif symbolizes the spiritual energy known as mana. The rare tauri ruff is preserved here, traditionally woven on a base of linen fibers and adorned with feathers and/or dog hair. The purpose of these ornaments was to distract the opponent with their beauty, or more trivially, to absorb his blood during combat. The scarlet feathers came mainly from the kaka bird, but also from a dozen other birds, whose beautiful plumage contributed to the weapon's magnificence and effectiveness.