There are a diverse collection of objects that represent the

culture and history of the Maori people of New Zealand. These artefacts vary in

type, style, and function, and include the following:

Weapons: Maori weapons were traditionally made from wood,

bone, and stone, and included clubs, spears, and weapons with serrated edges,

such as the patu and mere.

Carvings: Maori carvings are highly symbolic and often

depict stories and legends from Maori mythology. These carvings can be found on

buildings, canoes, and other objects, and are often intricately detailed.

Jewellery: Maori jewellery often features intricate designs

and is made from materials such as bone, stone, and shell. Pendants, earrings,

and bracelets are all common forms of Maori jewellery.

Taonga puoro (musical instruments): These are traditional

Maori musical instruments, such as the p?t?tara (conch shell trumpet) and the

k?auau (flute). Maori music is an important more...

Under the New Zealand Protected Objects Act 1975, administered by the New Zealand Ministry for Culture & Heritage, the sale, trade, export and ownership of some Maori artefact are regulated
Objects over 50 years old that also have Maori cultural significance must be inspected by Ministry for Culture & Heritage, and if significant the object will be allocated a "Y" number, a unique identification number. Artefacts that have a Y number can only be purchased by those that are registered collectors with the Ministry for Culture and Heritage.

257 items found:

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A 19th century patu paraoa (whalebone hand club). Flat…

19th Century Whalebone Hand Club with Muka Binding

A 19th century patu paraoa (whalebone hand club). Flat spatulate shape reducing to the grip section terminating in a rounded butt. Pierced for suspension with attached muka binding. Heavily grained surface. Chip to blade.

A large early 20th century pou Whakairo. The standing figure…

Early 20th Century Whakairo Figure with Manaia and Wheku

A large early 20th century pou Whakairo. The standing figure holding a patu in one hand and a pouwhenua in the other. The figures body interlaced by two manaia figures. His front leg placed on a wheku head. Raised on a circular plinth base. Damage and…

A 19th century tewhatewha (long handled club) long slender…

19th Century Tewhatewha with Carved Shaft and Feather Decoration

A 19th century tewhatewha (long handled club) long slender carved wood tapering shaft with a broad flat blade. Rudimentary single line figure-of-8 carving to the shaft. The blade pierced for decoration with feathers. Height 111 cm.

A 19th century patu paraoa (whalebone hand club). Spatulate…

19th Century Whalebone Hand Club with Pierced Suspension Loop

A 19th century patu paraoa (whalebone hand club). Spatulate shape reducing to the grip section terminating in eight graduating grooves with rounded butt. Pierced for suspension. Heavily grained surface with some fritting to the blade. Height 34 cm.

A good early 19th century patu paraoa (whalebone hand club).…

Early 19th Century Whalebone Hand Club - Patu Paraoa

A good early 19th century patu paraoa (whalebone hand club). Thick and heavy classic spatulate shape reducing to the grip section, the butt terminating in six graduating grooves with a countersunk suspension hole. Smooth heavily grained surface. Height 38…

A patu muka (fern root pounder). Circular cross-section with…

Antique Patu Muka: Fern Root Pounder with Losses, 21cm

A patu muka (fern root pounder). Circular cross-section with reducing grip to handle base. Old losses to butt end and lower impact section. Length 21 cm.

A patu muka (fern root pounder) hammer dressed volcanic stone…

Volcanic Stone Patu Muka Hammer: Traditional Maori Tool

A patu muka (fern root pounder) hammer dressed volcanic stone with circular cross-section tapering to the handle base. Length 31 cm.

A patu aruhe (wooden pounder). Found at Kaipara harbour 1948…

Kaipara Harbour Patu Aruhe: Wooden Pounder from 1948

A patu aruhe (wooden pounder). Found at Kaipara harbour 1948 length 23.3 cm.

A Maori greenstone patu handclub, with broad blade, ring hole…

Maori greenstone patu handclub with carved lines and ring hole

A Maori greenstone patu handclub, with broad blade, ring hole and carved lines to handle, length 29 cm.

A Maori patu, carved wood with paua shell decoration, New…

Maori Patu with Paua Shell Decoration, New Zealand, 20th Century

A Maori patu, carved wood with paua shell decoration, New Zealand origin, 20th century, 40.5 cm long

Maori greenstone patu, 19th century. Adorned with 19th century…

19th Century Maori Greenstone Patu with Paper Labels and Repair

Maori greenstone patu, 19th century. Adorned with 19th century paper labels plus 19th century staple repair. 30.5 cm long

Polychrome decorated timber carved figure in female form,…

Polychrome Female Figure Holding Mallet, 49cm, Major Paint Losses

Polychrome decorated timber carved figure in female form, holding a mallet or club, height 49 cm, Major losses to painted finish

A 19th century Patuki (hand club). The blade with triangular…

19th Century Maori Patuki Hand Club with Carved Designs

A 19th century Patuki (hand club). The blade with triangular cross-section tapering to a smooth shouldered grip and carved butt. Carved in rauponga patterns with triple hae hae and pataki. Embellished with cut paua and pierced for suspension. Length 43 cm.

A large 18th century patu onewa, Spatulate shaped blade…

18th Century Maori Patu Onewa with Spatulate Shaped Blade

A large 18th century patu onewa, Spatulate shaped blade reducing to a tapering oval shaped grip section. Countersunk suspension hole with three concentric grooves caved to the butt. Carved in greywacke variety stone featuring pale brown marbling. Length…

A superb large 18th century patu onewa, a rare and important…

18th Century Maori Stone Hand Club from Webster Collection

A superb large 18th century patu onewa, a rare and important Maori stone hand club carved in greywacke variety stone. Long fine spatulate shaped blade reducing to a tapered oval cross-section grip terminating in a five ridged butt with countersunk…

A carved wood tobacco pipe by Thomas Heberley (1876 - 1937).…

Heberley Carved Wood Tobacco Pipe with Tane and Wahine

A carved wood tobacco pipe by Thomas Heberley (1876 - 1937). The bowl is carved with a pair of naturalistic tane and wahine figures holding three fingered hands to their mouths. The wahine holds a stylised patu the tane with hand to hip, both with cut…

Taiaha Maori club, carved wood and paua shell, early to mid…

Maori Taiaha Club with Carved Wood and Paua Shell

Taiaha Maori club, carved wood and paua shell, early to mid 20th century, appears to have been cleaned back at some stage, 157 cm long.

Patu R?kau, 19th century, wooden patu of medium brown colour,…

19th Century Wooden Patu R?kau with Carved Oval End Knob

Patu R?kau, 19th century, wooden patu of medium brown colour, rounded base and short cylindrical handle, oval end knob carved with concentric grooves and ridges, suspension hole with old auction label attached dated 3rd June 1998, carving scratch marks on…

Patu muka, stone flax fibre pounder, handgrip formed in the…

Stone Flax Fibre Pounder with Handgrip from John Lawford Estate

Patu muka, stone flax fibre pounder, handgrip formed in the first 10 cm, rounded butt & base, length 24 cm. Provenance: Estate of John Lawford.

Patu muka, round based stone pounder, with pitting marks, shaft…

Round Stone Pounder with Pitting Marks and Hammer Dressing

Patu muka, round based stone pounder, with pitting marks, shaft smooth, handle and top covered with hammer dressing, the round top is worn but remains of three concentric oval grooves on the top remain, length 27 cm. Provenance: Estate of John Lawford.

Patu aruhe, wooden fern root pounder, handgrip formed in the…

Wooden Fern Root Pounder with Handgrip from John Lawford Estate

Patu aruhe, wooden fern root pounder, handgrip formed in the first 14.5 cm with rounded butt, flat base, length 31 cm. Provenance: Estate of John Lawford.

Patu aruhe, wooden fern root pounder, with semi rounded body,…

Wooden fern root pounder with burn marks, 34.5 cm length

Patu aruhe, wooden fern root pounder, with semi rounded body, tapered down to handle end with rounded butt, with burn & scorch marks, length 34.5 cm. Provenance: Estate of John Lawford.

Patuki - club, late 19th century club, carved from medium brown…

19th Century Patuki Club with Carved Design and Provenance

Patuki - club, late 19th century club, carved from medium brown wood with light patina, sides taper to a single triangular point. Grooved knob at top of the handle with single suspension hole. Short plain shaft tapering to a four sided fully carved club.…

Patu Par?oa, early 19th century whalebone club, with rounded…

19th Century Whalebone Club with Rounded Base and Handle

Patu Par?oa, early 19th century whalebone club, with rounded base small chip to one side. Short flat handle with slightly wider flat knob at the top, two shallow horizontal ridges on each side of the knob and a small square suspension hole [edges worn],…

Patu onewa, a large 19th century stone nephrite patu, of…

19th Century Nephrite Patu from John Lawford Estate

Patu onewa, a large 19th century stone nephrite patu, of traditional form with spatulate tapered end, the butt end with three concentric ridges and partially drilled hourglass suspension hole. Length 41 cm. Provenance: Estate of John Lawford.

Patu Okewa, rare Chatham Island curved stone okewa [hand club],…

Rare Chatham Island curved stone okewa hand club, bird shape

Patu Okewa, rare Chatham Island curved stone okewa [hand club], bird shape, oval cross section. Worn oval knob on the top of the handle. Surface pitted and some flake scars, surfaces worn. Length 27.5 cm [approx]. Provenance: Estate of John Lawford.

A folk art carving of a Maori woman, mid 20th century. Carved…

Maori Woman Carving from Mid 20th Century Folk Art

A folk art carving of a Maori woman, mid 20th century. Carved from a single piece of wood depicting a seated female figure wearing a piu piu and holding a patu. The woman wears a huia feather in her hair. At the base is a sticker that reads 'Maori Art…

A patu muka (fern root pounder), height 20 cm,

Traditional Maori Patu Muka Fern Root Pounder, 20 cm

A patu muka (fern root pounder), height 20 cm,

A late 19th century wahaika (carved wood hand club), Hooked…

19th Century Wahaika with Wheku Figure and Janus Face

A late 19th century wahaika (carved wood hand club), Hooked lobed blade with wheku figure carved to the inner blade curve. Pierced for suspension with unusual janus wheku face carved to the butt, height 37 cm,

A good early 19th century wahaika (carved wood hand club),…

19th Century Wahaika with Carved Wheku Figure and Hooked Blade

A good early 19th century wahaika (carved wood hand club), traditional hooked blade with carved wheku figure to the inner blade curve. The grip section terminating in a carved wheku head. Pierced for suspension. Small natural wood depression to one side…

A patu Pararoa (hand club), traditional spatulate shaped blade…

Pararoa Patu: Traditional Hand Club with Unique Notching Feature

A patu Pararoa (hand club), traditional spatulate shaped blade reducing to the grip, pierced for suspension with unusual notching to the butt, height 37.5 cm,

A whale bone kotiate (hand club), traditional lobed blade with…

Whale Bone Kotiate with Carved Wheku Head, 30 cm Height

A whale bone kotiate (hand club), traditional lobed blade with the handle pierced for suspension terminating in a carved wheku head, height 30 cm,

A good whale bone kotiate (hand club), with traditional lobed…

Whale Bone Kotiate Club with Carved Wheku Head and Paua

A good whale bone kotiate (hand club), with traditional lobed blade and handle terminating in a carved wheku head with cut paua inlaid eyes. Pierced for suspension, height 32 cm,

A solid burr totara colonial period patu, wide tapered blade,…

Burr Totara Colonial Period Patu with Wide Tapered Blade

A solid burr totara colonial period patu, wide tapered blade, oval section handle, length 36.5 cm.

A 19th century or earlier Maori whalebone patu, traditional…

19th Century Maori Whalebone Patu with Spatulate Blade

A 19th century or earlier Maori whalebone patu, traditional spatulate blade tapering to the edges, the reduced tapered grip with single groove to the small butt, length 35.3 cm.

Wahaika Maori club, carved whalebone, 19th century, 37.5 cm high

Wahaika Maori Club: Carved Whalebone, 19th Century, 37.5cm High

Wahaika Maori club, carved whalebone, 19th century, 37.5 cm high

A toki blade and the upper section of a patu onewa (short hand…

Broken Maori Weapon Parts: Toki Blade and Patu Grip

A toki blade and the upper section of a patu onewa (short hand club), both pieces broken away. The toki blade is sharp and intact. The patu grip displays a countersunk suspension hole and three concentric grooves to the butt, 11 cm, 6 cm length.

A Samoan paddle Club

Samoan Paddle Warriors

A Samoan paddle Club

Carved ebonised patu with huia commemorative plate and two…

Ebonised Patu with Huia Commemorative Plate

Carved ebonised patu with huia commemorative plate and two others, huia plate measurements - 32 cm

Patu muka (flax root beater), 23 cm length.

Flax Root Beater: 23cm Length

Patu muka (flax root beater), 23 cm length.

A pumice patu, 32 cm length

32 cm Pumice Patu

A pumice patu, 32 cm length

Patu Tuna (Eel club), Spatulate shaped blade tapering to the…

Spatulate Patu Tuna from Wagner Museum Collection

Patu Tuna (Eel club), Spatulate shaped blade tapering to the grip, Provenance: Wagner Musuem collection, Northland, 44 cm length.

Early 19th century Architectual board section, possibly the…

Wheku Ancestral Figure Door Section

Early 19th century Architectual board section, possibly the door to a kumara pit store, carved with an ancestral figure with a wheku head with protruding tongue with pakati detailing. The figure holds a patu to the abdomen clasped in three fingered hands.…

Pre-European patu onewa (stone hand club), basalt short hand…

Patu Onewa: Ancient Stone Hand Club

Pre-European patu onewa (stone hand club), basalt short hand club, spatulate shape reducing to the grip, three concentric grooves to the butt. Mid and upper section is lacquered. Countersunk suspension hole. Chip to the butt, some fritting to the blade,…

A patu muka (fern root pounder), made in argillite stone,…

Argillite Patu Muka with Defined Grip and Scarring

A patu muka (fern root pounder), made in argillite stone, defined grip section and handle base. Some scarring to one side of the body, 23 cm length.

Patu aruhe (fern root beater), tapered down to handle end, body…

Degraded Patu Aruhe with Large Hollow Indentation

Patu aruhe (fern root beater), tapered down to handle end, body shows a large hollow indentation, reverse showing a long indentation. Considerable degradation, 36 cm length.

A patu muka (fern root pounder), made in argillite stone, oval…

Argillite Patu Muka with Hammered Surface and Grooves

A patu muka (fern root pounder), made in argillite stone, oval cross section with hammer pecked surface. Three concentric grooves to the handle base, 21 cm length.

A patu muka (fern root pounder), made in volcanic stone, well…

Volcanic Stone Patu Muka with Carved Handle

A patu muka (fern root pounder), made in volcanic stone, well defined grip section with three concentric grooves carved to the handle base. Hammer pecked surface, 20 cm length.

A good whalebone kotiate (hand club), traditional lobed blade…

Whalebone Kotiate with Carved Wheku Head

A good whalebone kotiate (hand club), traditional lobed blade with the handle pierced for suspension terminating in a carved wheku head. Attached woven fiber, 33 cm length.

A patu onewa (stone hand club), argillite, tapering spatulate…

Argillite Patu Onewa with Suspension Hole and Grooves

A patu onewa (stone hand club), argillite, tapering spatulate shape with a countersunk hole for suspension, the butt terminating with three graduating grooves. Chip to the blade edge, 36 cm length.

Patu aruhe (fern root beater), tapering form with rounded end,…

Rounded Patu Aruhe: 16cm Tapered Fern Root Beater

Patu aruhe (fern root beater), tapering form with rounded end, 16 cm length.

A Maori pre-European patu aruhe (fern root pounder), of large…

Maori Fern Root Pounder, Traditional Large Size

A Maori pre-European patu aruhe (fern root pounder), of large size, traditional form, length 35 cm.

A Maori pre-European wooden patu aruhe (fern root beater), with…

Maori Wooden Patu Aruhe - 30.5 cm

A Maori pre-European wooden patu aruhe (fern root beater), with long bulbous head and tapered handle, length 30.5 cm

A Pre-European Maori part patu onewa, comprising the grip end…

Pre-European Maori Patu Onewa Grip and Butt, 10cm

A Pre-European Maori part patu onewa, comprising the grip end and butt, length 10 cm

A pre-European Maori patu onewa (stone hand club), the tapered…

Maori Stone Hand Club with Tapered Blade

A pre-European Maori patu onewa (stone hand club), the tapered spatulate blade with chip to the flattish top. The butt with defined ridge, length 24.5 cm.

A Maori pre-European wooden patu aruhe (fern root beater), with…

Maori Fern Root Beater, Pre-European Era

A Maori pre-European wooden patu aruhe (fern root beater), with tapered bulbous head and reduced handle tapering to nearly a point, length 30.5 cm.

A pair of New Zealand folk art figures, carved from wood. One…

New Zealand Wood Carved Folk Art Figures

A pair of New Zealand folk art figures, carved from wood. One figure holds a patu. The other figure has paua shell inlaid eyes. Tallest height 15 cm, width 4.9 cm, depth 4.5 cm

A New Zealand folk art carved figure, carved from wood.…

Hei Tiki Figure with Patu and Paua Shell Eyes

A New Zealand folk art carved figure, carved from wood. Depicting a hei tiki figure holding a patu over-head. The figure has paua shell eye inlays and has been coloured black, height 19.3 cm, width 9.5 cm, depth 4.7 cm

A patu paraoa whalebone club, Aotearoa. This short, one-handed…

Whalebone Patu Paroa Club

A patu paraoa whalebone club, Aotearoa. This short, one-handed striking weapon is of orthodox form with square suspension hole and bold rings to the base of the handle. Boasting a rich, warm patina consummate with age it is presented on a custom Museum…

A patu aruhe, Aotearoa, patu aruhe (fernroot beater). Pounders…

Aruhe Fernroot Pounder from Aotearoa

A patu aruhe, Aotearoa, patu aruhe (fernroot beater). Pounders in wood were used to process the aruhe (roots) of the Rauaruhe (bracken fern). The process included soaking in water then roasting, steaming or boiling the roots before finally pounding them…

Mere pounamu by Richard Anderson (nephrite hand club), Kawakawa…

Nephrite Hand Club with Inanga Grip Section

Mere pounamu by Richard Anderson (nephrite hand club), Kawakawa variety stone. The elongated blade tapering to an inanga grip section. Pierced for wrist suspension with three graduating concentric grooves. Modern 20th century example. 30.5 cm length

Mere pounamu by Richard Anderson (nephrite hand club), Kawakawa…

Kawakawa Nephrite Hand Club

Mere pounamu by Richard Anderson (nephrite hand club), Kawakawa variety stone. The elongated blade tapering to the grip section. Pierced for wrist suspension with five graduating concentric grooves. Modern 20th century example. 35.5 cm length

Tewhatewha (long handed fighting club), the slender tapering…

Rauponga-carved Tewhatewha with Feathers and Wheku Head

Tewhatewha (long handed fighting club), the slender tapering shaft with four bands of fine rauponga carving. The back of the flanged blade carved with a wheku head. The blade pierced with attached feathers. 114 cm length

A wahaika paraoa (whalebone hand club), with a figure with…

Whalebone Hand Club with Carved Patu and Wheku Head

A wahaika paraoa (whalebone hand club), with a figure with arched back holding a patu carved in relief to the curve of the blade. The handle with a square suspension hole terminating in a wheku head with protruding tongue. 30 cm length.

A rare greywacke patu onewa, the pecked blade reducing to the…

Rare Greywacke Patu Onewa with Incipient Carved Face

A rare greywacke patu onewa, the pecked blade reducing to the handle section with an incipient carved face to both sides. The blade with three incised lines and chipping to the outer rim. Provenance: Waimea plains, where Maori had numerous agricultural…

Patu aruhe (fern root beater), tapered from the handle section…

Fern Root Beater with Hollowed Handle

Patu aruhe (fern root beater), tapered from the handle section with hollowed indentation to the body. Damage and losses evident. Provenance: field collection, 33 cm length

Three swamp recovered artefacts, a patu arahe (fern root…

Swamp Artifacts: Tools and Top from Palisade Post

Three swamp recovered artefacts, a patu arahe (fern root pounder), a digging tool and top from a palisade post. Provenance: field collection

Patu aruhe (fern root pounder), tapering from knob end to…

Tapered Patu Aruhe: 33cm Fern Root Pounder

Patu aruhe (fern root pounder), tapering from knob end to rounded bottom. 33 cm length.

Large Pre-European patu muka (stone pounder), Quadrangular form…

Pre-European Stone Pounder with Broken Handle

Large Pre-European patu muka (stone pounder), Quadrangular form with rounded lateral edges. Top portion of handle broken away. 22 cm length

Patu aruhe (fernroot beater), tapered from knob end down to…

Tapered Patu Aruhe Beater

Patu aruhe (fernroot beater), tapered from knob end down to shoulder, curved towards bulbous end. 30 cm length.

Two patu aruhe (fernroot beaters), some losses and considerable…

Deteriorated Patu Aruhe Fernroot Beaters

Two patu aruhe (fernroot beaters), some losses and considerable degradation. 31 cm, 28 cm.

Two patu aruhe (fernroot beaters), some losses and considerable…

Fernroot Beaters: Field Collection Finds

Two patu aruhe (fernroot beaters), some losses and considerable degradation. Provenance: field collection. 27 cm, 36 cm length.

Large patu muka, well fashioned with a rounded pecked handle…

Rounded Patu Muka with Thick Beater End

Large patu muka, well fashioned with a rounded pecked handle and thick beater end. 20.5 cm length.

Patu muku (pounder), pecked and polished greywacke, four…

Polished Greywacke Patu Muku with Four Grooves

Patu muku (pounder), pecked and polished greywacke, four concentric grooves to the handle base. 22 cm length

Patu muku ( flax pounder), coarse volcanic stone with overall…

Volcanic stone flax pounder, 18 cm length

Patu muku ( flax pounder), coarse volcanic stone with overall pecked finish, 18 cm length

Patu muka (flax pounder), argillite stone. Rounded end and…

Argillite Patu Muka from Gibbs Collection

Patu muka (flax pounder), argillite stone. Rounded end and conical to shoulder, knob rounded and grooved. Hammer pecked surface. Provenance: Dame Jenny Gibbs collection. 23 cm length.

Patu muka (pounder), rounded end tapering to the knob. Pecked…

Volcanic Stone Pounder with Rounded Knob

Patu muka (pounder), rounded end tapering to the knob. Pecked course volcanic stone. 12 cm length. Y number pending

Pre-European patu muka (pounder), course pecked volcanic stone,…

Pre-European volcanic stone pounder

Pre-European patu muka (pounder), course pecked volcanic stone, knob end tapering to shoulder, rounded end. 31 cm length

A 19th century patu paraoa (whalebone hand club), traditional…

19th Century Whalebone Hand Club

A 19th century patu paraoa (whalebone hand club), traditional broad spatulate blade, reducing to the grip section, with a circular suspension hole. Provenance: Dame Jenny Gibbs collection. 40 cm length.

Two carved wooden patu, inlaid paua. Modern 20th century. 34 cm,…

Inlaid Paua Wooden Patu Pair - 20th Century

Two carved wooden patu, inlaid paua. Modern 20th century. 34 cm, 36 cm length

A 19th century kotiate paraoa (whalebone hand club ), with…

Whalebone Hand Club with Carved Figure and Wheku Grip

A 19th century kotiate paraoa (whalebone hand club ), with lobed blade and with a small carved figure to the base of the blade. The grip section terminating in a wheku figure carved in high relief. Provenance: Dame Jenny Gibbs collection, 35 cm length.

A Pre-European patu paraoa (whalebone hand club), traditional…

Maori Whalebone Hand Club

A Pre-European patu paraoa (whalebone hand club), traditional broad spatulate blade, reducing to the grip section, with a countersunk suspension hole. Chips evident to the blade. Provenance: Dame Jenny Gibbs collection. 43 cm length.

Contemporary whale bone Wahiaka (short club), male figure to…

Wheku Wahiaka: Whale Bone Club with Male Figure

Contemporary whale bone Wahiaka (short club), male figure to the inside curve, wheku face carved on the butt. Attached binding with feathers. 37 cm length

Pre-European patu onewa (stone hand club), traditional…

Patu Onewa Hand Club from Dame Jenny Gibbs Collection

Pre-European patu onewa (stone hand club), traditional spatulate form reducing to the grip section with hourglass suspension hole with three concentric groves to the butt. Small chip to the blade. Provenance: Dame Jenny Gibbs collection, 34 cm length.

A wooden fern root beater (patu aruhe), Oval cross section.…

Dark Wooden Fern Root Beater

A wooden fern root beater (patu aruhe), Oval cross section. Distal sides almost come to a point. Tapers towards handle with rounded poll. Dark brown wood with black sections. Found as above, length 41 cm

A wooden fern root beater (patu aruhe). Circular cross section.…

Fern Root Beater from Norsewood

A wooden fern root beater (patu aruhe). Circular cross section. Tapered handle with a rounded poll. Dark brown wood with black sections. Dug up while digging drains near Norsewood headwaters of Manawatu River mid-1930s, length 39.5 cm

Large greenstone club, carved natural stone club with polished…

Greenstone Club with Woven Tie and Carvings

Large greenstone club, carved natural stone club with polished finish, hand woven wrist tie and simple three line decoration to handles end. Length 36.5 cm width at widest point 11 cm

A patu aruhe, Whangarei Region, made from a dense brown wood.…

Aruhe Patu from Whangarei Region

A patu aruhe, Whangarei Region, made from a dense brown wood. This pounder is used for beating rauaruhe fern down to extract the edible flesh from the fibres. This patu has a circular cross section that tapers up to the butt of the handle. Written in…

A patu muka, Aotearoa. This flax pounder is made from a…

Flax Pounder from Greywacke Boulder in Aotearoa

A patu muka, Aotearoa. This flax pounder is made from a greywacke boulder. There are areas of the natural surface of the boulder and other heavily smoothed surfaces from use. Length 22.5 cm, width 8 cm

A 19th century Maori carved whalebone kotiate (hand club), the…

Maori Whalebone Hand Club with Mask Head Butt Knob

A 19th century Maori carved whalebone kotiate (hand club), the butt knob carved as a profile mask head with ring eyes, drilled suspension hole, smooth all over patina. The traditional kidney form carved blades with two 'eyelets'. Length 29 cm.

Wahaika paraoa (whalebone hand club), large early 20th century…

Manaia Whalebone Hand Club with Paua Eyes

Wahaika paraoa (whalebone hand club), large early 20th century example with a manaia figure carved to the in-curve of the blade, the handle pieced for suspension and carved with a manaia head with paua shell eyes, 44 cm length

A good rare whalebone tokotoko, the tapering shaft carved with…

Rare Whalebone Tokotoko with Figures and Antler Handle

A good rare whalebone tokotoko, the tapering shaft carved with two figures. The upper section figure with a wheku head with protruding tongue and cut paua shell eyes. The arms with pikorauru spirals at the shoulders and hands placed to the abdomen. The…

A rare, finely carved tokotoko (ngati tamateatutahi, ngati…

Finely Carved Tokotoko with Ancestral Figures and Paua Shell Eyes

A rare, finely carved tokotoko (ngati tamateatutahi, ngati pikiao), (ceremonial walking stick), the upper section at the base of the handle with an ancestral figure carved in low relief. The face naturalistically rendered with ta moko. One arm with four…

Patu muka (flax pounder), grey Volcanic stone, pecked all over…

Grey volcanic stone flax pounder

Patu muka (flax pounder), grey Volcanic stone, pecked all over finish, 27 cm length.

Patu muka (flax pounder), Argillite stone with overall pecked…

Argillite Patu Muka

Patu muka (flax pounder), Argillite stone with overall pecked finish, 27 cm length

Muku (flax pounder) patu muka (flax pounder), Coarse volcanic…

Hammered volcanic stone flax pounder

Muku (flax pounder) patu muka (flax pounder), Coarse volcanic stone. Hammer pecked finish, 17 cm length