Wahaika Maori Club Carving

(W5)

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Wahaika Maori Club Carving, this piece was hand carved in Rotorua, New Zealand by a master carver using native New Zealand Matai.

Size: The piece measures 300mm (11 3/4 inches) long, 100mm (3 3/4 inches) wide, 20mm (3/4 inches) deep.

Weight: 0.25Kg / 0.55 lbs.

This Wahaika Maori Club carving was hand carved in Rotorua, New Zealand. This high quality carving is shaped and carved using New Zealand native Matai.

Wahaika

The Wahaika is a short thrusting club, the wahaika was used in hand-to-hand combat by Maori warriors. The figure on the carving faced backwards during battle to protect the holder from being attached from behind. This authentic wahaika was hand carved from New Zealand native Matai timber and was hand-painted.

The Carving Process

Initially the talented carver shapes the timber to approximate dimensions. Then the piece is hand carved using traditional and authentic designs which have been passed down through generations. These design depict tribal and family details.

Once the carving is finished, the piece is then dipped into a stain and sprayed with lacquer ensuring the preservation of the timber. The final step of the process is to add the carvings embellishments such as paua eyes, greenstone, feathers and binding if necessary.

The carvers of these pieces have been trained through Maori carving institutions and have spent a long time perfecting their skills making it possible for them to carve to the detail required to ensure each piece is authentic and that each piece represents a part of the history of Maroidom.