Nephrite Hand club

Maori. Bay of Islands, North Island, New Zealand.
Nephrite
L43.0 cm
Christy Collection: gift of Sir C.H. Read
Oc1896,-.929

This hand club was one of four objects given by Titore, a Maori chief of the Ngapuhi tribe, to F.W. Sadler, of the HMS Buffalo. The Buffalo sailed regularly between Sydney and the Bay of Islands, North Island of New Zealand in the 1830s. The club was later sold by Sadler's grand-daughter to C.H. Read.

Maori weapons, and short clubs (mere) in particular, were made in several forms ideal for close range fighting. They were made of stone, wood or whalebone: those made of nephrite were the most prestigious. Maori value nephrite for its strength and its ability to keep a sharp cutting edge, as well as for its beauty. Such clubs were often given personal names, and were regarded as heirlooms.

A warrior would use the club in either hand, wielding it like a cleaver with a slicing motion to strike at an adversary's head or neck. When not in use, the mere was carried tucked into the folds of the man's belt, safe yet always at hand. The perforation at the butt end would be for a wrist strap, often a plaited flax fibre cord or a thong.