It's a mere replica club, but...

fearn · 4th August 2009, 02:07 AM

...but it really is jade.

Somehow, I don't think I'll ever get to hold, much less purchase, a real mere (the nephrite/greenstone club of the maori chiefs), but I'm happy with this replica, made from Canadian jade.

Just got it. 14.5" long, 4.25" wide. Not something we see on this list very often.

Comments?

Best,

F

VANDOO · 4th August 2009, 05:23 PM

THE CLUB IS WELL MADE AND PROPERLY MADE AND IS WITHIN THE TRADITIONAL SIZE RANGE. SOME REPLICAS ARE TOO SMALL BUT YOURS IS LARGE ENOUGH FOR ACTUAL USE AND THE POLISH LOOKS TO BE WELL DONE. JADE IS NOT THE EASIEST OF STONES TO WORK OR POLISH SO WHOEVER MADE IT DID A GOOD JOB AND EVEN WITH MODERN POWER TOOLS IT WOULD TAKE CONSIDERABLE TIME TO MAKE THIS ITEM. THE ONLY THING OFF IS THE COLOR OF THE JADE IS THAT THE REAL COLOR AS I HAVE NEVER SEEN JADE IN THAT COLOR BEFORE. ON THE PLUS SIDE YOU MAY HAVE THE ONLY MERE OF THAT COLOR JADE IT IS FROM CANADA AFTER ALL AND PERHAPS THE CANADIAN MAORI PREFER THAT COLOR

CONGRADULATIONS IT LOOKS GOOD AND IF IT FEELS AS GOOD IN THE HAND AS MY MERE WILL BE A PLEASURE TO HANDLE AND STRENGTHEN YOUR WRISTS IF YOU WAVE IT AROUND A LOT.

THE MORE YOU HANDLE A MERE THE MORE MANNA YOU IMPART INTO IT, AT LEAST THATS MY BELIEF.

fearn · 4th August 2009, 06:32 PM

Thanks Vandoo,

To clarify, I got it at a show that was focused on jade, and the seller (who made it) identified it as coming from the Kutcho mine in British Columbia. He also had a number of other large pieces made from that mine's jade, and it's much of the same kind. Obviously it's not gem-grade nephrite, but it's still a nice piece.

Not that I'm much of a rockhound, but that sale taught me quite a bit about the different types and colors of jade. I also didn't realize how mottled some pieces could be, although in thinking about it, it should be obvious.

The mere itself is a bit of a revelation. Once you pick it up, you can understand why they were valued as weapons. It's about the same weight as a mid-sized kukri, and the balance is nice too. Now, if I could only find some better instructions on how the maori used it.

Best,

F

VANDOO · 6th August 2009, 01:49 AM

YOU SHOULD LOOK FOR THE BOOK
MAORI WEAPONS in Pre-european New Zealand, by Jeff Evans

IT COVERS THE PATA/MERE AND MOST OTHER FORMS OF MAORI WEAPONS, ITS THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE BOOK ON MAORI WEAPONS I HAVE. NOT A VERY BIG BOOK AT 70 PAGES BUT GOOD INFORMATION WITH LITTLE FLUFF. IT DOES GIVE FIGHTING TECKNIQUE AS WELL AS DESCRIPTIONS AND INFORMATION ON VARIOUS FORMS OF MAORI WEAPONS.
I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO GET A REAL OLD MAORI MERE FROM NEW ZEALAND QUITE A FEW YEARS AGO SO DON'T GIVE UP LOOKING BUT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH A RECENT WELL MADE JADE ONE FROM ELSEWHERE AS THE MANA COMES FROM THE MAKER AND THE OWNER AND IF ITS MADE PROPERLY AND OF STONE IT WILL DO.
MY JADE MERE DOES GET A GOOD POLISHING BY HAND AS I ENJOY HANDELING IT, GOOD FOR MEDITATION AND DOSEN'T MAKE ME FEEL THE LEAST LITTLE BIT WARLIKE

fearn · 6th August 2009, 02:11 AM

Thanks Vandoo,

I'll take your excellent advice.

Best,

F

Tim Simmons · 6th August 2009, 04:51 PM

I have been getting into stone recently, fabulous stuff. So far I have only worked limestone and yorkstone. To me the limestone a life to it or a magic I could respond to. I did not like the yorkstone which is a sand stone and gave up on the carving. I used the other blocks in the garden. I would love to have a go at jade or other semi-precious stone. Clubs can be fondled while watching TV

that makes me sound bit of an odd bod. Stone is nice in the hand. Anyway I have these very interesting picks of North American jade objects from a small collector series of books called "collectors blue books, jade, Louis Zara 1969". Interesting?

4th August 2009, 02:07 AM	#1
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	It's a mere replica club, but... ...but it really is jade. Somehow, I don't think I'll ever get to hold, much less purchase, a real mere (the nephrite/greenstone club of the maori chiefs), but I'm happy with this replica, made from Canadian jade. Just got it. 14.5" long, 4.25" wide. Not something we see on this list very often. Comments? Best, F Attached Images

4th August 2009, 06:32 PM	#3
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	Thanks Vandoo, To clarify, I got it at a show that was focused on jade, and the seller (who made it) identified it as coming from the Kutcho mine in British Columbia. He also had a number of other large pieces made from that mine's jade, and it's much of the same kind. Obviously it's not gem-grade nephrite, but it's still a nice piece. Not that I'm much of a rockhound, but that sale taught me quite a bit about the different types and colors of jade. I also didn't realize how mottled some pieces could be, although in thinking about it, it should be obvious. The mere itself is a bit of a revelation. Once you pick it up, you can understand why they were valued as weapons. It's about the same weight as a mid-sized kukri, and the balance is nice too. Now, if I could only find some better instructions on how the maori used it. Best, F Last edited by fearn; 4th August 2009 at 07:33 PM.

6th August 2009, 04:51 PM	#6
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,739	I have been getting into stone recently, fabulous stuff. So far I have only worked limestone and yorkstone. To me the limestone a life to it or a magic I could respond to. I did not like the yorkstone which is a sand stone and gave up on the carving. I used the other blocks in the garden. I would love to have a go at jade or other semi-precious stone. Clubs can be fondled while watching TV that makes me sound bit of an odd bod. Stone is nice in the hand. Anyway I have these very interesting picks of North American jade objects from a small collector series of books called "collectors blue books, jade, Louis Zara 1969". Interesting? Attached Images

4th August 2009, 05:23 PM	#2
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	THE CLUB IS WELL MADE AND PROPERLY MADE AND IS WITHIN THE TRADITIONAL SIZE RANGE. SOME REPLICAS ARE TOO SMALL BUT YOURS IS LARGE ENOUGH FOR ACTUAL USE AND THE POLISH LOOKS TO BE WELL DONE. JADE IS NOT THE EASIEST OF STONES TO WORK OR POLISH SO WHOEVER MADE IT DID A GOOD JOB AND EVEN WITH MODERN POWER TOOLS IT WOULD TAKE CONSIDERABLE TIME TO MAKE THIS ITEM. THE ONLY THING OFF IS THE COLOR OF THE JADE IS THAT THE REAL COLOR AS I HAVE NEVER SEEN JADE IN THAT COLOR BEFORE. ON THE PLUS SIDE YOU MAY HAVE THE ONLY MERE OF THAT COLOR JADE IT IS FROM CANADA AFTER ALL AND PERHAPS THE CANADIAN MAORI PREFER THAT COLOR CONGRADULATIONS IT LOOKS GOOD AND IF IT FEELS AS GOOD IN THE HAND AS MY MERE WILL BE A PLEASURE TO HANDLE AND STRENGTHEN YOUR WRISTS IF YOU WAVE IT AROUND A LOT. THE MORE YOU HANDLE A MERE THE MORE MANNA YOU IMPART INTO IT, AT LEAST THATS MY BELIEF.

6th August 2009, 01:49 AM	#4
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	YOU SHOULD LOOK FOR THE BOOK MAORI WEAPONS in Pre-european New Zealand, by Jeff Evans IT COVERS THE PATA/MERE AND MOST OTHER FORMS OF MAORI WEAPONS, ITS THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE BOOK ON MAORI WEAPONS I HAVE. NOT A VERY BIG BOOK AT 70 PAGES BUT GOOD INFORMATION WITH LITTLE FLUFF. IT DOES GIVE FIGHTING TECKNIQUE AS WELL AS DESCRIPTIONS AND INFORMATION ON VARIOUS FORMS OF MAORI WEAPONS. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO GET A REAL OLD MAORI MERE FROM NEW ZEALAND QUITE A FEW YEARS AGO SO DON'T GIVE UP LOOKING BUT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH A RECENT WELL MADE JADE ONE FROM ELSEWHERE AS THE MANA COMES FROM THE MAKER AND THE OWNER AND IF ITS MADE PROPERLY AND OF STONE IT WILL DO. MY JADE MERE DOES GET A GOOD POLISHING BY HAND AS I ENJOY HANDELING IT, GOOD FOR MEDITATION AND DOSEN'T MAKE ME FEEL THE LEAST LITTLE BIT WARLIKE

6th August 2009, 02:11 AM	#5
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	Thanks Vandoo, I'll take your excellent advice. Best, F