| Native Name | Mere Pounamu |
| Object Number | P2311 |
| Current Location | Collections Storage |
| Culture | Maori |
| Provenience | New Zealand |
| Period | Te Huringa I Period |
| Date Made | 1800 - 1900 CE |
| Section | Oceanian |
| Materials | Greenstone |
| Description | A mere pounamu (greenstone hand club) made from kawakawa (a type of greenstone). It is flat and tear-shaped, with a hole for a wrist cord (tau) at the narrow end. Three lateral grooves above the drilled hole, on both sides. A mere pounamu is a highly valued one-handed weapon. Featuring a sharp, striking edge, mere were used for cutting and stabbing rather than hitting, as when blocked by another weapon, they could break. As the creation of a mere pounamu would be a long process, and they were highly treasured, care was taken to avoid breaking one. Originally used in hand-to-hand combat, mere pounamu were both practical weapons as well as symbols of chieftainship. Passed down through generations, they were often given names and were thought to have their own mana (status/power). |
| Length | 42.8 cm |
| Width | 11.2 cm |
| Credit Line | Purchased from W. O. Oldman; Subscription of Herbert L. Clark in memory of Edward W. Clark, 1911 |
| Other Number | 23279 - Dealer's Number |
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