Ceremonial adze ·  Cook Islands - Mangaia Island · ID: 3038948

Description

wood, coir, stone (basalt), square shaft carved with filigree ornaments partly in openwork design, fine coir binding, sharpened and polished blade from black basalt, slightly dam., missing parts (shaft, tip of the blade base);
adzes of this elaborate kind were a form of god image, possibly related to “tane-matariki”, the god of the craftsmen. Stone blades served as exchange valuables as well as tools, and could also serve as shrines for gods. These adzes enshrine the finest of woodwork, binding and stonework.

The object Ceremonial adze with the object ID 3038948 was part of the auction 80th Tribal Art Auction on June 27, 2015. The object with the lot number 50 achieved a sales price of EUR 2,500 with an asking price of EUR 2,400.

Here you will find more objects and interesting facts about Oceanian art.

Comparing literature

Hooper, Steven, Pacific Encounters, Norwich 2006, p. 229