Māori, New Zealand
18th century
Wood, red trade cloth, horsehair
Length: 76 in. (193 cm)
Provenance: Reuben Ruebens, London; private collection, Maine; Norman Hurst, Cambridge, MA
Publication: Polynesia: The Mark and Carolyn Blackburn Collection, Honolulu, 2010, pp. 354, no. 505
This taiaha is a traditional Māori weapon, a long wooden staff used in close-quarters combat in New Zealand. It is a sophisticated weapon combining the features of a spear, paddle, and staff, and is still used in traditional Māori martial arts. The taiaha is not just a weapon but also a symbol of Māori culture and identity, representing history, values, and connection to the natural world.
This example is distinguished by its red trade cloth and horsehair adornment at the arero end, materials that indicate both period and the status of its original owner. At 76 inches, the length is consistent with taiaha carried by rangatira, or chiefs, for whom the weapon served ceremonial as well as combat functions. The three-owner provenance, passing through Reuben Ruebens in London, a private Maine collection, and specialist Norman Hurst in Cambridge, places this piece within a well-documented collecting history across two continents.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
Māori, New Zealand
18th century
Wood, red trade cloth, horsehair
Length: 76 in. (193 cm)
Provenance: Reuben Ruebens, London; private collection, Maine; Norman Hurst, Cambridge, MA
Publication: Polynesia: The Mark and Carolyn Blackburn Collection, Honolulu, 2010, pp. 354, no. 505
This taiaha is a traditional Māori weapon, a long wooden staff used in close-quarters combat in New Zealand. It is a sophisticated weapon combining the features of a spear, paddle, and staff, and is still used in traditional Māori martial arts. The taiaha is not just a weapon but also a symbol of Māori culture and identity, representing history, values, and connection to the natural world.
This example is distinguished by its red trade cloth and horsehair adornment at the arero end, materials that indicate both period and the status of its original owner. At 76 inches, the length is consistent with taiaha carried by rangatira, or chiefs, for whom the weapon served ceremonial as well as combat functions. The three-owner provenance, passing through Reuben Ruebens in London, a private Maine collection, and specialist Norman Hurst in Cambridge, places this piece within a well-documented collecting history across two continents.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
