The taiaha is a traditional Maori weapon usually between five and six feet (1.5 and 1.8 metres) in length. It is a wooden, close-quarters weapon used for short, sharp strikes or stabbing thrusts. It has three main parts: the arero (tongue), used for stabbing the opponent and parrying, the upoko (head), from whose base the tongue protrudes, and the ate (liver), the long, flat blade which is also used for striking and parrying. Mau Rakau is the martial art that teaches the use of the taiaha and other Maori weapons in combat. As they do with other martial arts styles, students of the taiaha spends years mastering the skills of timing, balance and coordination necessary to wield the weapon effectively. The weapon is widely known due to its use in the wero – the traditional Maori challenge. The upoko in this example is adorned with a tauri (collar) of muka binding which is further decorated with prestigious kurī (dog) hair, the tassels of which form the awe. The kurī figured extensively in Maori tradition and had its place in ritual as, for example, when the aid of Tu, the war god, was sought prior to the commencement of a battle. The enjoining of kurī to the taiaha was a prestigious act which reflected the status and mana of the warrior chief to whom this taiaha once belonged. H.1730mm, W.110mm. Formerly in a private collection, New York. $8,000 - $15,000
A PRIVATE COLLECTION NEW YORK
[160] Rare Chiefly Taiaha