Massive Oceanic Polished Green Nephrite Jade Maori Hand War Club Mere Pounamu

NEW ZEALAND, EARLY-MID 20TH CENTURY A.D.

14 1/2 in. (1.33 kg, 37 cm).

Polished and of flattened spatulate form with a ribbed terminal pierced for attachment.

Provenance

From the collection of Mr Carlos Bahamonde, Manchester, UK.

Literature

Cf. Elsdon, B., The Maori as He was: a Brief Account of Life as it was in Pre-European Days, Wellington, 1934, p.158, fig.59.

Footnotes

Pounamu was highly prized by Māori, and the mere pounamu, as the weapon of a chief or rangatira, was the most revered of all Māori weapons. These mere were passed down through generations. The mere was a type of Māori fighting mace also used as a symbol of authority. The mere is one of the three types of patu fighting mace. It is the simplest of the three. It is paddle-shaped and flat and wide at the striking end. It has three or four grooves in the handle, along with a hole through which a cord or strap passes to attach it to the wrist.

CONDITION

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LOT 2754