club (weapons: bludgeon)

Maori spear club (Taiaha) of totara wood, with bi facial lanceolate tip engraved with distinctive curvilinear motifs. the four eyes would originally have contained rings of paua (Haliotis) shell, although only obne now remains. The neck of the spear-club is ornamented with a construction of pink, European trade cloth bound with plaited cordage of harakeke (Phormium tenax) fibre to which are attached several tufts of dog hair. There were extensive strips of harakeke leaf also attched at heis point although most are now detached.

fighting

Collection Information

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