Club (Mere Parava)

ClassificationsArms and Armor-clubs-club heads

Culture Māori

Date17th to 18th Century

Made AtNew Zealand

MediumNephrite

Dimensions10 1/4 × 3 1/4 × 3/4 in. (26 × 8.3 × 1.9 cm)

Credit LineBowers Museum General Acquisition Fund Purchase

Object number2002.18.3

DescriptionThis teardrop-shaped club is made of nephrite, a material exclusively reserved for noblemen and chiefs. This club was both a symbol of power and a practical weapon. The design of the club made it suitable to strike a blow to the upper-body or head of an opponent in hand to hand combat. No matter which way the club was oriented when used, it produced lethal results. The hole carved out in the handle made it possible to suspend the club from the wrist or waist when not in use.

On View

On view

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