Hand Club

18112

From: New Zealand | North Island | Waikato Region | Near Lake Taupo

Curatorial Section: Oceanian

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Native Name Patu Onewa
Object Number 18112
Current Location Collections Storage
Culture Maori
Provenience New Zealand | North Island | Waikato Region | Near Lake Taupo
Period Te Huringa I Period
Date Made 1800 - 1900 CE
Section Oceanian
Materials Sandstone | New Zealand Flax
Description

A patu onewa (stone hand club) is a one-handed weapon with a flat blade and a sharp striking edge. Patu were used in hand-to-hand combat, generally to strike an enemy on the head.

Made from graywacke (a type of sandstone), tear-shaped, with a hole for a wrist cord (tau) at the narrow end. The wrist cord, which is made of plaited harakeke (New Zealand flax), is broken but present. There is a groove around one end above a hole, which is drilled conically from both sides.

According to notes made by the collector C.D. Voy this hand club was formerly owned by a Māori chief near Lake Taupo.

Length 29.7 cm
Width 7.4 cm
Credit Line Gift of William Pepper, 1891
Other Number 2 - Other Number

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