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Adze, Hafted, D24.330

Physical Description

Wooden helve, pounamu/ nephrite blade/inaka variety. Carved handle oval in section, ridge at base extending from tongue of wheku style inward sitting head diminishing at middle to a blunt point at proximal end. Distal end has platform with carved face on internal side below. External/projection at distal endof platform and elaborately carved in form of human figure; inset paua eyes. Manaia sits back to handle and merged with human figure with protruding tongue.
Toki blade lashed onto handle with fibre. Blade is thin sectioned , bevelled the full length on true right side but not on other. An approximate 30 degree angled blade which shows sign of some wear. Shimmery green with high schistocity and lighter mottled vein. Two perforations at butt end for attachment. Several cracks including one at centre distal end of toki.

Research Notes

Catalogue card:
Wooden helve, nephrite blade. Carved Handle oval in section, tapers to a blunt point at proximal end. Distal end has platform with carved face on internal side below. External/projection at distal end and elaborately carved in form of pierced human figure; inset paua eyes. Toki blade lashed onto handle with fibre wood. Blade is thin sectioned. Shimmery green with lighter mottled vein. Two perforations at butt end for attachment. Several cracks. The greenstone is beautifully marked but the carving is not as fine as that of adze handle d21.221

Provenance

Locality
Unlocalised. Purch Oldman F/F

Measurements

Maximum dimensions (H x W x D): 450 x 78 x 235mm

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