Early Maori Beater – Patu Muka or Patu Aruhe (Unfinished) – Beautiful smaller example making it easy to display.

An authentic and significant example of a traditional Maori beater, likely intended for use in fibre or food preparation. Crafted from natural greywacke river stone and modified through hammerdressing, this taonga may have been cached or discarded prior to final refinement.

Details: Type: Traditional Maori beater – likely Patu Muka (for harakeke flax fibre) or Patu Aruhe (for fern root pounding) Material: Natural greywacke river stone Form: Elongated, oval cross-section with deliberate hammerdressing to shape a knobbed handle; the body has been rounded but not yet fully finished Surface: Unpolished, with clear working traces—indicative of a tool still in progress, offering valuable insight into traditional manufacturing processes

Condition: Solid and intact, with no damage—wear patterns and unfinished areas suggest the piece was cached, discarded, or awaiting final refinement

Provenance: From the Donald Gordon Collection, Gisborne—

Dimensions: Length: 230mm Width: 47.34mm Depth: 57.65mm Weight: 984.9g

Important Note: This taonga (treasure) can only be sold to a registered collector, in line with Aotearoa New Zealand's cultural heritage protection guidelines. Registration is free and ensures appropriate guardianship of significant Maori artefacts.

I’m currently downsizing my private collection of Maori and New Zealand artefacts. Please see my other listings for more rare and well-documented taonga.

Questions welcome – Respectful enquiries invited. I'm happy to provide further photographs, contextual insights, or provenance documentation on request.