Adze Blade
P4637
From: New Zealand | North Island | Northland Region
Curatorial Section: Oceanian
| Native Name | Toki Pounamu |
| Object Number | P4637 |
| Current Location | Collections Storage |
| Culture | Maori |
| Provenience | New Zealand | North Island | Northland Region |
| Period | Te Puawaitanga Period |
| Date Made | 1500-1800 CE |
| Section | Oceanian |
| Materials | Greenstone |
| Description | A toki pounamu (nephrite adze blade) made of kawakawa (a common variety of New Zealand greenstone). Quadrangular in shape, with a beveled edge. Pounamu is thought of as an ideal material to be shaped into cutting tools, as it is durable and the cutting edge is not blunted easily. A paper label on the blade states, "Toki - Belonging to x Hapu by them when driven away by Ngati Whatua Hapu on Otene Kikokiko's Pa (x property) by Rahi (Ngati Whatua) x 1883 where it was buried in x. J.A. Mac Mahon". Otene Kikokiko was a Māori Chief who lived at Kaipara, Northland, in the mid-19th century. He was the leader of the Te Taou Hapu. The Ngāti Whātua is the Māori iwi located in the Lower Northland. |
| Length | 25 cm |
| Width | 10.5 cm |
| Thickness | 2.7 cm |
| Credit Line | Purchased from W. O. Oldman, 1912 |
| Other Number | 24795 uncetain - Dealer's Number | 13249/1 - Other Number | 10 - Other Number |
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