Maori Long Club, New Zealand

Volks Museum, Pretoria, deaccessioned in 1987
Private Collection, acquired from the above

Very good condition for an object of its age. Marks, nicks, scratches and abrasions throughout consistent with its use. Some very minor old chips and hairline age cracks. Mother of pearl inlays possibly replaced. Fine, very dark brown colour with old varnish.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
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The taiaha was the most widely favored of the three types of two-handed long clubs used by Maori. The pointed end is in the form of a carved tongue sticking out from an open mouth. This gesture was "a ritualized challenge given by Maori warriors, and thus the form of the weapon is connected to one of its aggressive functions" (Hooper, Pacific Encounters: Art and Divinity in Polynesia, 1760-1860, London, 2006, p. 141).

This taiaha has a ripple-like surface which accentuates the beautiful grain, or kakano, of the wood. Augustus Hamilton wrote that "in an old specimen, the surface of the weapon [...] has a peculiar ripple-like feel, caused by the scraping or smoothing of the surface with the edge of a shell or some similar cutting edge." (Hamilton, The Art Workmanship of the Maori Race in New Zealand, Wellington, 1896, p. 177).