Battle axe "patiti"
Click here to view a larger version of the image
Lot: 312
Battle axe "patiti"
New Zealand, Maori
| Provenance | Size | Hammer price |
|---|---|---|
| Christie's South Kensington, 4 July 1990, Lot 269 Alexander Kubetz (1946-2023), Munich, Germany |
H: 23 inch | sold |
wood, iron, base
The shaft of this axe is extremely skilfully carved with intricate designs. It is adorned with three figures and two anthropomorphic heads. The iron blade is of European origin and was acquired in the trade (illegible engraving "Mo...2").
These weapons were used for close, hand-to-hand fighting, in which Maori warriors became adept.
Kaeppler, Adrienne, Polynesia, Honolulu 2010, p. 353
