Maori wotsit?

kronckew · 15th July 2014, 06:07 PM

stumbled across this on epray. it's coming to live with my patus

described as a moari (sic) wooden club, no other info except 'nice patina - feels light' appears from other photo in vendors hand that it is about 14+ inches long or so.

pointed pommel end carved both sides with a birds head, with inlaid abalone eyes. main diamond shaped area is carved & inlaid intricately and deep on top, carved less ornately underneath with an unusual asymmetric diagonal.

looked fairly old to me. any ideas what it is? my initial thoughts were it was the broken off end of a taiaha like weapon with the shaft end re-carved with the birdies. my second was that it is a patu variant. or maybe a teaspoon or asparagus cutter

. whatever it is, i like it, especially for being unusual.

spiral · 15th July 2014, 10:34 PM

I agree its defiantly a wotsit...

Of that I am certain....

Spiral

VANDOO · 16th July 2014, 07:44 AM

ITS CALLED A DANCE PADDLE THEY ARE NICELY CARVED ON BOTH SIDES AND SHORTER THAN A OLDER FORM OF CEREMONIAL CHIEFS PADDLE CALLED A HOE. I AM NOT SURE WHEN THE SHORTER FORM OF DANCE PADDLE CAME INTO BEING BUT THE EXAMPLE I HAVE WAS COLLECTED IN THE EARLY 1930'S AND IS 33 INCHES LONG. I ASSUME THEY WERE USED IN CERTIAN TRADITIONAL DANCES PERHAPS TELLING THE STORIES OF THE VOYAGES OF THEIR ANCESTORS. THE SHORTER FORMS MAY HAVE ORIGINATED TO FIT IN TRAVELERS LUGGAGE JUST A GUESS.
HERE ARE SOME PICTURES OF THE MORE RECENT SHORTER PADDLES # 1 &2 NO MEASUREMENTS. #3. 48 X 7 CM. LONG
#4 THRU #7, 50 INCH LONG. #8, 9 &10 NO MEASUREMENTS.

I STILL CLASS THE 50 INCH ONE AS A NEWER TYPE BASED ON ITS FORM.

VANDOO · 16th July 2014, 08:03 AM

HERE ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF THE OLDER HOE WHICH BELONGED TO THE CHIEFS OR HIGH UP PEOPLE IN THE TRIBES.
#1 THRU #4 190 CM. LONG HOE CEREMONIAL PADDLE
#5. OLDMAN CATALOG PLATE.
#6. FROM THE BOOK " THE MAORI AS HE WAS"
#7 THRU #10. 155 CM. LONG CHIEFS CEREMONIAL PADDLE 1850'S
#11 & 12. PICTURES TALEN IN NEW ZEALAND 1890

kronckew · 16th July 2014, 09:58 AM

interesting. that's what it appears to be.

i can't dance. but i can tell stories!

i'll wonder how old it is...

kronckew · 18th July 2014, 02:52 PM

i've had another acquaintance tell me they thought it was a small hoe.

it just arrived, it's actual measurements are 18.5 inches (47cm) by 3.75 inches (9.5cm), and about an inch thick (2.54) in the middle. 180 grams. a few light dings and dents, but nothing more than normal wear & tear.

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15th July 2014, 06:07 PM	#1
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,184	Maori wotsit? stumbled across this on epray. it's coming to live with my patus described as a moari (sic) wooden club, no other info except 'nice patina - feels light' appears from other photo in vendors hand that it is about 14+ inches long or so. pointed pommel end carved both sides with a birds head, with inlaid abalone eyes. main diamond shaped area is carved & inlaid intricately and deep on top, carved less ornately underneath with an unusual asymmetric diagonal. looked fairly old to me. any ideas what it is? my initial thoughts were it was the broken off end of a taiaha like weapon with the shaft end re-carved with the birdies. my second was that it is a patu variant. or maybe a teaspoon or asparagus cutter . whatever it is, i like it, especially for being unusual. Attached Images

15th July 2014, 10:34 PM	#2
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	I agree its defiantly a wotsit... Of that I am certain.... Spiral

16th July 2014, 07:44 AM	#3
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	ITS CALLED A DANCE PADDLE THEY ARE NICELY CARVED ON BOTH SIDES AND SHORTER THAN A OLDER FORM OF CEREMONIAL CHIEFS PADDLE CALLED A HOE. I AM NOT SURE WHEN THE SHORTER FORM OF DANCE PADDLE CAME INTO BEING BUT THE EXAMPLE I HAVE WAS COLLECTED IN THE EARLY 1930'S AND IS 33 INCHES LONG. I ASSUME THEY WERE USED IN CERTIAN TRADITIONAL DANCES PERHAPS TELLING THE STORIES OF THE VOYAGES OF THEIR ANCESTORS. THE SHORTER FORMS MAY HAVE ORIGINATED TO FIT IN TRAVELERS LUGGAGE JUST A GUESS. HERE ARE SOME PICTURES OF THE MORE RECENT SHORTER PADDLES # 1 &2 NO MEASUREMENTS. #3. 48 X 7 CM. LONG #4 THRU #7, 50 INCH LONG. #8, 9 &10 NO MEASUREMENTS. I STILL CLASS THE 50 INCH ONE AS A NEWER TYPE BASED ON ITS FORM. Attached Images

16th July 2014, 08:03 AM	#4
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	HERE ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF THE OLDER HOE WHICH BELONGED TO THE CHIEFS OR HIGH UP PEOPLE IN THE TRIBES. #1 THRU #4 190 CM. LONG HOE CEREMONIAL PADDLE #5. OLDMAN CATALOG PLATE. #6. FROM THE BOOK " THE MAORI AS HE WAS" #7 THRU #10. 155 CM. LONG CHIEFS CEREMONIAL PADDLE 1850'S #11 & 12. PICTURES TALEN IN NEW ZEALAND 1890 Attached Images

16th July 2014, 09:58 AM	#5
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,184	interesting. that's what it appears to be. i can't dance. but i can tell stories! i'll wonder how old it is...

18th July 2014, 02:52 PM	#6
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,184	i've had another acquaintance tell me they thought it was a small hoe. it just arrived, it's actual measurements are 18.5 inches (47cm) by 3.75 inches (9.5cm), and about an inch thick (2.54) in the middle. 180 grams. a few light dings and dents, but nothing more than normal wear & tear.