Māori, Oceanic Art & African Art Tuesday, 4 October 2022 - 3:00 PM start

19th Century Pouwhenua (Long handled Pointed Fighting Staff)

Lot Details

19th Century Pouwhenua (Long handled Pointed Fighting Staff) With a carved tapering pointed blade with haehae and whakarare decoration. The center of the handle with a finely carved wheku head with paua shell eyes. The handle terminating in a further wheku head with paua shell eyes. The Pouwhenua belongs to the same class of weapon as the tewhatewha and taiaha, but are more rare. They are a long handled fighting weapon designed for stabbing, parrying and striking. 184 cm length. Y number pending