Hand Club
18108
From: New Zealand | North Island | Hawke's Bay Region | Napier
Curatorial Section: Oceanian
| Native Name | Wahaika |
| Object Number | 18108 |
| Current Location | Collections Storage |
| Culture | Maori |
| Provenience | New Zealand | North Island | Hawke's Bay Region | Napier |
| Period | Te Puawaitanga Period |
| Date Made | 1500-1800 CE |
| Section | Oceanian |
| Materials | Wood | Plant Fiber |
| Description | A wooden wahaika (short hand club) with a figure carved along one side. Both sides of the blade are intricately carved. The reke (butt of the weapon) is carved in the shape of a head. Underneath the head is a rectangular hole from which a wrist cord (tau) is attached. A wahaika is a short-handled thrusting weapon with a distinctive figure carved on one side. Used in close combat, the wahaika was made to both parry and strike. The slit along the edge of the club would have been to snag and dislodge an opponent's weapon in battle. |
| Length | 36 cm |
| Width | 12 cm |
| Credit Line | Gift of William Pepper, 1891 |
| Other Number | 7 - Other Number |
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