A LATE 19TH / EARLY 20TH CENTURY MAORI HARDWOOD WAHAIKA OR SHORT CLUB, NEW ZEALAND

A LATE 19TH / EARLY 20TH CENTURY MAORI HARDWOOD WAHAIKA OR SHORT CLUB, NEW ZEALAND a style of wooden patu (patu tawaka and patuki), of curved spatulate form, the froward edge with a notch, the backwards edge with a tiki figure and a mask to the handle butt, 40cm long
Provenance: Sold at Philips, London, Sale 336, Lot 143, still with lot label to handle
A Wahaika is a type of traditional Māori hand weapon. Wahaika are short club-like weapons usually made of wood or whalebone and are used for thrusting and striking in hand-to-hand fighting.
Wahaika translates to "mouth of the fish", in reference to the notch on one side which is used to catch an opponent's weapon. On the other side just above the handle the concave tip above a carved humanoid figure is the primary striking edge, particularly used against the opponent's temples, face, and ribs. The rest of the spherical edge is sharp like a blade.
Wooden wahaika are often carved with intricate designs. In addition to being a fighting weapon, Rangatira (hereditary Māori leaders of hapū, a division of a Maori people or community) would hold wahaika during ceremonies and speeches, especially if they wanted people to pay attention to something important. Special wahaika would only be gifted to people with considerable ranking in the Māori tribal structure.
Sold for £3,500
Includes Buyer's Premium