Carved wooden club (patu or mere). Weapon is thin with tapering edges. Head is spatulate, with a wide top and a concave area below a carved upside-down humanoid face. The face has angled eyes with inset half-circle shell eyes, and a large tongue. Each side is ornately carved, with a single circular shell inset at centre. The short handle is smooth, culminating in a pommel carved into two circles, one with inset beads of abalone shell on each side at centre. Carved into the side, TE-RAU-O-TE-AROHA.

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• Type of Item club
• Culture Maori
• Material wood, abalone shell, plant fibre
• Measurements height 30.0 cm, width 10.5 cm, depth 3.1 cm (overall)

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• Previous Owner Bette Thompson
• Received from Bette Thompson

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• Made in New Zealand

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• Ownership Date before February 10, 2020
• Acquisition Date on February 10, 2020

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• Condition good
• Accession Number 3425/0007