Description:

Oceania, New Zealand, ca. 1930s CE. An impressive patu (war club), finely carved from wood of warm caramel hues, with inlaid haliotis (abalone) shell forming the eyes of an acrobatic anthropomorphic figure that is on one side. The handle is zoomorphic, shaped like the head of a snarling creature, and also presenting with abalone shell eyes. The patu is a traditional weapon of the Maori people, who, prior to European arrival in New Zealand, fought between their tribes using hand-to-hand combat. This example is made from a particularly beautiful piece of wood, polished to a matte sheen, and the iridescent abalone shell inlays are quite striking. Size: 15.75" L x 4.75" W (40 cm x 12.1 cm)

See a Maori statue depicting a figure wielding a patu at the Pitt Rivers Museum, Oxford, UK (museum number 1884.62.35).

See a Maori club of different form but carved in a similar manner at the British Museum (museum number Oc,NZ.92).

Provenance: private Southern California, USA collection, acquired in the 1970s to mid-1980s

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#141022

  • Condition: Chip and abrasion to tip of paddle. Scratches to surface and small abrasions. Wood is polished and smooth.

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January 14, 2021 10:00 AM MST
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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