$3,400
Impressive Maori wooden fighting long staff (Taiaha), New Zeland. Carved and engraved hardwood and haliotis shell inlay. Taiaha, finely carved from hard wood, one end carved in the shape of a head (upoko) with a face on each side, a tongue (arero), with double spirals, double parallel grooves and dog-tooth pattern notches, protrudes from the mouth and forms the front blade, the body (tinana) provides the grip with a flat, smooth striking blade (rau); fine, glossy reddish-brown patina “Along with the patu the late Classic Maori also carried a weapon of the quarterstaff type, wielded with both hands in a variety of thrusts, parries and feints. The most common was the taiaha, one end flattened to a narrow blade, the other carved as a distorted double-face head, the point representing a tongue issuing forth in the typical Maori gesture of defiance.” (Phelps, 1976: p 31). Approx L167cm. PROVENANCE John Magers Collection, Sydney.
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