Post #356027 by Tamapoutini on Sat, Jan 19, 2008 5:20 PM

On 2008-01-18 20:11, Robin wrote:

...It bounced off the 100 sq. ft. of carpet, and landed on the 6 inches of cement around the edge! SHIT SHIT SHIT! Tama...just what are the stones trying to tell me?*

It's very interesting to me that ultimately these clubs are based in the age old question of form and function. And the craftsmen/artists made them and designed them with these questions in mind as well as spirit. I don't know if the warriors made their own, or went to the club maker and selected one. Or if the club was made specifically for a particular person. Does anyone else?

I also started a Wahaika another close combat lobed weapon. Originally clubs were made of stone and undecorated. The notches and lobes in both weapons served to catch an opponents weapon, and disarm them. I read somewhere that the Kotiate was sharp at the end, and that the notches were used for disembowling...

*ALWAYS stay vigilant when using powertools! As for dropping newly finished pieces, I think that must just be something that all learning carvers must go through to test your patience and committment.. :wink:

Handheld stone 'clubs'(better described as blades!); basically only Mere were made from pounamu - the kotiati/'liver-cutter' was traditionally made from the wide rib-bones of whale & less commonly from the denser jawbone material. As I understand it, these were used mainly for hacking at the belly/sides and/or for taking off the top of the skull (Ive been told the notches at the sides were specifically for this purpose, but then the name confirms the disembowling-tool theory doesnt it?)
I'd guess that the highly time-consuming stone Mere (jade and non-jade alike) would have been made for a specific person and most likely there were guidelines as to their size/weight/balance, in order to fit the intended recipient. The taiaha/long staff for example, was made at the length from ground to underneath the chin of the intended owner. A different but similar example is in the spacing of holes for personal koauau/bone flute; all based/measured on lengths of owners fingers.. All sensible/practical stuff really; simply better to have a taylor-fitted item than an off-the-shelf one, eh?

Sorry, cant guess what the last piece is that you're making; it looks very much like a naturally beach-tumbled jade beachpebble..?

Put those losses behind you (recycling is a great way to 'move on'..) You do have a very nice, crisp style and finish; keep it up - get TIKI! :wink:

Tama :)