PWA2449S
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This double-sided waihaka parāoa features stylised manaia with pāua shell inlaid eyes and intricately carved mangopare and ununahi designs.
This waihaka is an important example of pre-European Māori weaponry. It shows how Māori artisans used stone tools to fashion effective weapons for use in close combat, a preferred method of warfare. The whole blade edge might be used to parry blows or strike an opponent during combat.
This taonga was hand-carved by Alex Sands from parāoa (whale bone). It is bound with a muka-coloured hand-braided wrist tau (cord), and sits on a basalt stone base with brass fittings. It measures approximately 34 x 12 cm.
Wahaika translates to "mouth of the fish", in reference to the notch on one side which is used to catch an opponent's weapon.
***N.B: We are unable to ship whalebone items outside of NZ***
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