A Finely Carved Maori Nephrite ‘Mere Pounamu’ Patu

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A Finely Carved Maori Nephrite ‘Mere Pounamu’ Patu

Finch & Co

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)

A Finely Carved Maori Nephrite ‘Mere Pounamu’ Patu
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.

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