About this lot

Description

A 19th century Maori wood Wahaika handclub, of classic rounded shape with side notch, finely carved with a back-arching tiki to the upper handle, an oval motif to the waisted middle, the lower handle pierced for a cord and with tiki head terminal, fine glossy patina 33cm (13in)
Provenance: The vendor's great grandfather, Samuel Norris, was a cabin boy on HMS Dunedin, a New-Zealand bound ship in the late 19th Century, and was given the Wahaika handclub as a present by the ship's Captain, Arthur Roberts. It has remained in the family ever since. Other Notes: The Wahaika is a short club used for thrusting and striking in close combat. The name translates as 'mouth of the fish'. It is thought the notch was used to catch an opponent's weapon. The Dunedin was the first ship to bring refrigerated meat back from New Zealand to England.

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