Oceania, New Zealand, Chatham Islands, Moriori (ancestral Maori), ca. 16th to early 19th century CE. A rare example of a patu or warclub, with a curved crescent-moon shaped blade, carved from an attractive black stone with a highly polished and lustrous surface. The patu is a traditional weapon form of the Maori people who, prior to European arrival in New Zealand, fought between their tribes using hand-to-hand combat- however tribal fighting amongst the Moriori of the Chatham Islands was less common, and most disputes were handled by duels that rarely resulted in serious injury. These patu clubs may have been used as ceremonial items of rank or for hunting of seals rather than warfare. Size: 11.25" L x 2.75" W (28.6 cm x 7 cm)

Provenance: private Lumberton, Texas, USA collection, acquired before 2010

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#170338

Surface wear, abrasions, nicks, and chips as expected with age and use, but overall good condition and well preserved. Some light mineral and earthen deposits in abraded recessed areas.