War club "patu wahaika paraoa" · New Zealand, Maori · ID: 3053501
Arno Henseler, Munich, Germany
Description
bone, base
The “patu wahaika” is a traditional Maori striking and close-combat weapon. Its name means “fish mouth” and refers to its characteristic shape with a lateral notch. In addition to its use as an effective weapon in close combat, it was regarded as an important status symbol and was worn on the belt by high-ranking figures and chiefs. Furthermore, it played an important role on ceremonial occasions and ritual dances. Examples made from whale bone (“paraoa”) are significantly rarer than those made from hardwood or “pounamu” (jade) and are particularly prized for their rarity, historical significance and craftsmanship.
Comparing literature
Phelps, Steven, Art and Artefacts of the Pacific, Africa and the Americas. The James Hooper Collection, London 1976, p. 55