Staff

P3119B

From: New Zealand

Curatorial Section: Oceanian

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Native Name Taiaha
Object Number P3119B
Current Location Collections Storage
Culture Maori
Provenience New Zealand
Period Te Huringa I Period
Date Made 1800 - 1900 CE
Section Oceanian
Materials Wood
Description

A taiaha (long-handled fighting staff), made of one piece of wood. There is a pointed blade with shallow, incised carvings resembling a head. The arero (tongue) is undecorated. Around the eyes is carved with incised lines. About halfway down the tiana (body) are panels of incised lines.

The taiaha is a long-handled fighting staff used to stab, parry, and strike. The distinctive blade is carved to resemble a head (upoko) with a tongue (arero) coming out of its mouth. This gesture of defiance in Māori culture is often represented in carvings.

Length 141 cm
Width 4.3 cm
Credit Line Purchased from W. O. Oldman, 1912
Other Number 18640 - Dealer's Number

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