A LATE 19TH / EARLY 20TH CENTURY MAORI HARDWOOD KOTIATE OR SHORT CLUB, NEW ZEALAND a style of wooden patu (patu tawaka and patuki), of curved spatulate form, the middle with double notch, the central and handle butt with spiralling hatched carving, 36cm long

Provenance: Sold at Philips, London, Sale 125, Lot 100, still with lot label to handle

A Kotiate is a type of traditional Māori hand weapon. Kotiate derives from koti (cut in two or divide) and ate (liver), the meaning probably taken from its shape which resembles the lobed part of the human liver.