Collection Search

complete, everything in place, no Tau. This Patu is in very good condition. On one side it is cracked along the blade, it has a small hole along that crack near the bottom. The crack has been fixed with adhesive. At the butt of the patu there are markings, Reke, that surround the hole for the tau.

Whalebone pendant with broken suspension hole at the proximal end. Slightly reduced and flattened at the distal end. Circular cross section.

Complete patu paraoa. Knob at the butt, coming to a dull point. Two large bilateral notches and projections where the blade meets the handle. Small incised marks on the inside of the notches.

Carving of human head made from bone. The back of the carving is concave with two projections at the proximal end either side. Both projections have been perforated - drilled at an angles and subsequently broken. There is a visible repair where previously broken longitudinally ON the proper left side and glued together. There is a centre ridge on the front face from forehead to the raised, squared mouth. The eyes are raised and squared. There are two perforations either side above the mouth, possibly representing nostrils. The chin sits in a deep groove along the bottom edge. There is a horn like projection on the upper proper right side, proper left side broken.

Complete patu paraoa. Previously broken on the blade and glued back together. Four decorative grooves on each side of the butt. Perforation on butt. Sticker residue on one side of blade.

Broken whalebone heru (comb). It is missing two teeth and a portion of the proper left side. The proper left side of the comb has been worn in, potentially to accomodate an ornamental feature which has broken off. The proper left lateral margin has notches from the break to the top of the teeth. Six teeth remain. There is a crack originating at the top of the comb, along with some chipping.

Complete patu paraoa. The length of the blade has deep natural groves. The handle also has a groove through it. The butt has a circular perforation.

Complete patu paraoa. Handle has a circular perforation.

Complete tatā (canoe bailer) made of a split whalebone. Large bulbous end made from the epiphysis of the bone, tapering to a straight, open pouring edge. Exterior side of the epiphysis has a mouth and protruding tongue carving and decorative geometric patterns. Handle curved over the top, with a human face (spiral eyes, nose, lips and tongue) indicated at the end. Surface has been polished on one side, and is burnt on the epiphysis and on the handle. Holes at the epiphysis. Has previously been broken and repaired at the pouring edge. Identified as a fake, not of authentic Māori origin.

Complete wahaika paraoa. Large perforation through handle, with a widened knob at the proximal end. Cracks in surface of one side.

Broken patu paraoa, two fragments remaining. Fragment A is a long slender portion of the blade, broken at either end. There is are two arrow shaped grooves on the surface of the patu, one pointing in either direction. The bone is worn and porous. Fragment B is the butt end of the handle, widest at the very end.

Complete patu paraoa. The butt has a circular perforation with lines carved below. It has broken at the perforation point, across the handle and tip of the blade but been glued back together.

Complete patu paraoa. Proximal edge is convex with two knobbed projections on either side. One of the knobbed projections has incised marks on it. Perforation on the butt, relatively straight with a slight groove connecting it to the proximal edge on both sides. Surface is smooth, particularly on the handle.

Broken patu handle. Butt remaining. A suspension hole has been drilled through the middle. The poll splits into two adorned prongs. The whakairo (carving) on the prongs is worn. There is some resemblance to manaia (bird ancestors) heads, with the beaks facing towards the poll. The proper left prong is worn along the outer lateral margin.

Complete patu paraoa. Handle is relatively narrow compared to width of blade. Handle is polished without ornamental decoration. There are two knob projections on either side of the blade where it meets the handle, one of which is broken.

Fragment of patu paraoa, butt remaining. Stylised human face carved into it.

Broken patu paraoa, longitudinal fragment remaining. Sides reduce around handle, flaring out towards the butt. Slight reduction on one side just before butt, indicating a drill mark for a perforation.

Seal jaw bone, some broken teeth remaining in natural position.

Complete patu paraoa. Surface is weathered and cracked. Knob at the butt with a projection on one side and a slight indentation on the other. The centre of the handle has two notches on each side. The portion of the handle between these notches and the blade bows out slightly, with diagonal incised marks on the front. Pronounced shoulders where the handle meets the blade.

Partial patu paraoa, blade remaining. Blade was broken in two pieces but has been glued together.