A Finely Carved Maori Nephrite ‘Mere Pounamu’ Patu
A Finely Carved Maori Nephrite ‘Mere Pounamu’ Patu
Period 1800-1850
Origin New Zealand, New Zealand Maori
Medium Nephrite, old paper labels
Dimension 28.5 x -2 cm (11¹/₄ x 0³/₄ inches)
Nephrite, old paper label
Fine colour and patina through use
New Zealand
First half 19th Century
SIZE: 28.5cm long - 11¼ ins long
‘The Mark and Carolyn Blackburn Collection’, 2010, pg. 348, ill. 492 - 493 and ‘The Maori Collections of the British Musuem’ Dorota Czarkowska Starzecka, Roger Neich, Mick Prendergrast; plate 120 - 121 ill. 730 - 731 / 739 - 744 and 745 - 746
Period: 1800-1850
Origin: New Zealand, New Zealand Maori
Medium: Nephrite, old paper labels
Dimension: 28.5 x -2 cm (11¹/₄ x 0³/₄ inches)
Provenance: D. Barrett, London 2009
Ex Private collection
Literature: Of all the short weapons made of stone, wood or bone the ‘mere pounamu’, the jade thrusting and cleaving club, was held in the highest regard. It was the only Maori weapon made of jade and was unique to New Zealand.
The power or ‘mana’ of certain Maori jade weapons, according to traditional histories, was so great that some important warriors knowing their end was near asked to be dispatched by a famous weapon, or supplied their own illustrious club to the executioner, to be sure pass into the next world with dignity and honour.
Finch & Co
Antiquities, ethnographica, natural history, sculpture and works of art
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