Toki
Description
Toki poutangata: Ceremonial adze/ toki pou tangata made of greenstone, wood and muka cord. The original catalogue card states that the blade is made from the 'auhunga' variety of greenstone. It is roughly 'T' shaped overall. The wooden shaft and butt is carved. There is a manaia head at the base of the handle and notched patterning on the upper half of the handle. The butt is carved with a 3 dimensional stylised full figure. The figure has paua eye inlays and is carved on the lips, arms, back and legs. The figure has an open mouth and is either eating a creature resembling an eel or is playing a flute like instrument (the eel like shape has paua eye inlays). The plaited muka binding has loosened. The pounamu is thin and roughly trapezoid shaped, it has a blade end and shaped poll end opposite. The original catalogue card states the piece dates back to circa 1860s.
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Object detail
Length: 393mm: b - Handle
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