item details
NameKotiate (short hand club)
ProductionUnknown; carver; New Zealand
Classificationkotiate, edged weapons
Materialswood
Techniqueswoodcarving
DimensionsOverall: 160mm (width), 340mm (length), 35mm (depth)
Registration NumberME002492
Credit lineGift of Lord St Oswald, 1912
Overview
The kotiate is variant form of the short handled striking weapon. The name kotiate, which means to cut or divide the liver (koti = cut in two or divide; ate = liver), is probably taken from its shape, which resembles the lobed part of the human liver. This kotiate was formerly part of the Lord St Oswald collection (United Kingdon), which includes a number of items collected during Captain James Cook voyages to New Zealand between 1769 and 1777. Lord St Oswalds collection was presented to the Dominion Museum of New Zealand in 1912.