Lot 27
Oceania, Polynesia, Cook Islands, Mangaia, ca. 18th to 19th century CE. A superb ceremonial adze featuring a lashed triangular stone blade bound tightly with plaited sennit to a long wooden shaft. The shaft is deeply and uniformly carved with a repeating pattern, terminating in a dense, tiered knop of geometric palmettes. These elaborately constructed adzes were made by ta'unga (adze making specialists) for ritual contexts and were considered highly prestigious objects. The intricate carving and balance of materials - stone, wood, and fiber - demonstrate the artistic refinement and symbolic importance of such tools prior to missionary influence in the region. Size: 14" L x 2" W x 30.75" H (35.6 cm x 5.1 cm x 78.1 cm); 32.5" H (82.6 cm) on included custom stand.
Adzes from Mangaia in the Southern Cook Islands stand apart from others in the Pacific due to their ornate craftsmanship and distinctive design features. Larger, more elaborately carved versions - such as this example - served ceremonial purposes. Hallmarks of these adzes include highly polished stone blades, meticulous lashing in a triple-triangle pattern, and intricately carved shafts. These objects held deep cultural value as symbols of status and wealth. Skilled adze makers, known as ta'unga, held important positions within society, often compensated with food, cloth, or even protection in exchange for their craft.
Provenance: Ralph T. Coe Center for the Arts, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA; Purchased from Mauna Kea Galleries, Hawaii, USA in the 1980s; from an old New England collection.
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#195972
- Condition: Choice. Old chips at tip of blade. Portions of fiber at top missing or broken. Nice patina to wood. Overall excellent piece with incredible details and preservation.
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