Chief with Patu and Taiaha
Price: $45.00
Hand painted figure of a Maori warrior holding a Patu and axe. A Taiaha is a traditional maori weapon that is approx. 2M long. It is made from wood and used for short sharp strikes or stabbing thrusts. It has three main parts: the arero (tongue), used for stabbing the opponent and parrying, the upoko (head), the base from which the tongue protrudes, and the ate (liver), the long flat blade which is also used for striking and parrying. This was a hand made weapon used during inter-tribal wars. A patu is mainly used as a striking weapon. The blow administered with this type of weapon was a horizontal thrust straight from the shoulder at the enemy's temple. If the foe could be grasped by the hair then the patu would be driven up under the ribs or jaw. The preferred material for the patu was pounamu (greenstone). Patu made from pounamu were generally called Mere. Patu were also fashioned from ordinary stone, whalebone and wood. Maori decorated the patu by carving into the wood or bone.
55mm high
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