MAORI SHORT CLUBS (KOTATE FORM)

VANDOO · 21st May 2010, 12:36 AM

THERE ARE SEVERAL SHORT CLUBS USED BY THE MAORI WARRIORS. ONE FORM IS THE KOTATE SOMETIMES CALLED THE LIVER CUTTER. THESE CLUBS WERE USED FOR FIGHTING CLOSE IN AND HAD SHARP EDGES TO CONCENTRATE THE FORCE AND BREAK BONES AND DO SERIOUS DAMMAGE TO ORGANS OR TISSUE. IT COULD STRIKE WITH BOTH EDGES AS WELL AS BE USED TO THRUST WITH THE LEADING EDGE. THEY HAVE A NOTCH ON EACH SIDE FOR CATCHING THE EDGES OF OTHER SHORT CLUBS. THEY ARE MOSTLY MADE FROM WOOD, WHALEBONE AND SOMETIMES STONE OR JADE.

Battara · 21st May 2010, 01:39 AM

Great examples! Thank you so much for posting them. What are the ages?

VANDOO · 21st May 2010, 02:04 AM

THEY RANGE FROM 1800'S TO THE PRESENT. THE WOODEN EXAMPLE WITH THE MEASUREMENTS 12" BELOW IS A NEW ONE FOR TOURISTS. THESE NEWER ONES ARE USUALLY MADE OF A LIGHTER SOFTER WOOD THAT IS EASIER TO CARVE BUT NOT AS GOOD FOR A WEAPON. THE OLDER ONES THAT WERE ACTUAL WEAPONS ARE USUALLY RATHER PLAIN, THE ONES WITH FACES CARVED ON THE STRIKING END ARE MORE CEREMONIAL AND PROBABLY RANGE FROM 1920'S TO PERHAPS THE 1960'S.
THERE ARE STILL SOME WELL CARVED EXAMPLES MADE BY EXPERT CARVERS BUT MOST ARE JUST FOR TOURISTS AND NOT VERY WELL DONE. THERE ARE QUITE A FEW EXCELLENT MAORI CARVERS BUT THESE DAYS MOST OF THEIR GOOD WORK IS DONE AS BONE AND JADE JEWLRY.
THE CLUB SIZE IS USUALLY AROUND 10 TO 14.5 INCHES BUT A FEW OF THE SHORT CLUBS ARE 18 TO 21. THERE IS ONE PICTURE OF A SHORT CLUB THAT IS NOT A KOTATE, I WILL TRY AND COVER THE OTHER SHORT CLUBS LATER IN OTHER POSTS. THE OLDER KOTATAE SOMETIMES HAS A TIKI FACE CARVED ON THE END OF THE HANDLE AND THE TWO NOTCHES BUT USUALLY NO OTHER DESIGNS. MOST OF THESE CLUBS HAVE A CORD LANYARD SO THEY ARE USUALLY PIERCED. THE OLDER ONES WILL SHOW CRUDE TOOL MARKS FOR MAKEING THE HOLE AS WELL AS WEAR, THE NEW ONES A HOLE FROM A DRILL BIT.

fearn · 21st May 2010, 02:21 AM

Fun! It's nice to see a display of these.

Thanks Vandoo.

F

VANDOO · 26th May 2010, 12:19 AM

Maori chier Perotiti with kotatae club taken 1901

migueldiaz · 26th May 2010, 01:17 AM

Wonderful photos! Thanks Vandoo for sharing them

21st May 2010, 12:36 AM	#1
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	MAORI SHORT CLUBS (KOTATE FORM) THERE ARE SEVERAL SHORT CLUBS USED BY THE MAORI WARRIORS. ONE FORM IS THE KOTATE SOMETIMES CALLED THE LIVER CUTTER. THESE CLUBS WERE USED FOR FIGHTING CLOSE IN AND HAD SHARP EDGES TO CONCENTRATE THE FORCE AND BREAK BONES AND DO SERIOUS DAMMAGE TO ORGANS OR TISSUE. IT COULD STRIKE WITH BOTH EDGES AS WELL AS BE USED TO THRUST WITH THE LEADING EDGE. THEY HAVE A NOTCH ON EACH SIDE FOR CATCHING THE EDGES OF OTHER SHORT CLUBS. THEY ARE MOSTLY MADE FROM WOOD, WHALEBONE AND SOMETIMES STONE OR JADE. Attached Images

26th May 2010, 12:19 AM	#5
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	Maori chier Perotiti with kotatae club taken 1901 Attached Images Last edited by VANDOO; 26th May 2010 at 12:52 AM.

21st May 2010, 01:39 AM	#2
Battara EAAF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,219	Great examples! Thank you so much for posting them. What are the ages?

21st May 2010, 02:04 AM	#3
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	THEY RANGE FROM 1800'S TO THE PRESENT. THE WOODEN EXAMPLE WITH THE MEASUREMENTS 12" BELOW IS A NEW ONE FOR TOURISTS. THESE NEWER ONES ARE USUALLY MADE OF A LIGHTER SOFTER WOOD THAT IS EASIER TO CARVE BUT NOT AS GOOD FOR A WEAPON. THE OLDER ONES THAT WERE ACTUAL WEAPONS ARE USUALLY RATHER PLAIN, THE ONES WITH FACES CARVED ON THE STRIKING END ARE MORE CEREMONIAL AND PROBABLY RANGE FROM 1920'S TO PERHAPS THE 1960'S. THERE ARE STILL SOME WELL CARVED EXAMPLES MADE BY EXPERT CARVERS BUT MOST ARE JUST FOR TOURISTS AND NOT VERY WELL DONE. THERE ARE QUITE A FEW EXCELLENT MAORI CARVERS BUT THESE DAYS MOST OF THEIR GOOD WORK IS DONE AS BONE AND JADE JEWLRY. THE CLUB SIZE IS USUALLY AROUND 10 TO 14.5 INCHES BUT A FEW OF THE SHORT CLUBS ARE 18 TO 21. THERE IS ONE PICTURE OF A SHORT CLUB THAT IS NOT A KOTATE, I WILL TRY AND COVER THE OTHER SHORT CLUBS LATER IN OTHER POSTS. THE OLDER KOTATAE SOMETIMES HAS A TIKI FACE CARVED ON THE END OF THE HANDLE AND THE TWO NOTCHES BUT USUALLY NO OTHER DESIGNS. MOST OF THESE CLUBS HAVE A CORD LANYARD SO THEY ARE USUALLY PIERCED. THE OLDER ONES WILL SHOW CRUDE TOOL MARKS FOR MAKEING THE HOLE AS WELL AS WEAR, THE NEW ONES A HOLE FROM A DRILL BIT.

21st May 2010, 02:21 AM	#4
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	Fun! It's nice to see a display of these. Thanks Vandoo. F

26th May 2010, 01:17 AM	#6
migueldiaz Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Manila, Phils. Posts: 1,042	Wonderful photos! Thanks Vandoo for sharing them