North Pacific, Hawaii, Big Island, Mount Kea, ca. 18th to 19th century CE. An attractive and hefty basalt adze blade of a utilitarian form that is hand-carved from dark gray hardstone. The sizable tool features a thick body, a tapered blade head with an acutely angled edge, a narrow mid-section, and a flared tang that juts out from the backside. The head exhibits incredibly smooth textures that, along with the chipped surfaces of the blade and body, indicate heavy utilitarian use when it was attached to a wooden pole. Adzes are called "ko'i" in Polynesia, and it seems they were traded widely; indeed, axes from Hawaii have been found thousands of miles away in what is now French Polynesia, demonstrating the incredible skill of Polynesian navigators. Size: 6.5" L x 2.2" W (16.5 cm x 5.6 cm)
Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection, acquired 1995 to 2010; ex-Leo Fortess collection, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA, acquired from the 1950s to 1970s
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#168082
Condition
Collection label near blade edge and collection number inscribed on side. Expected nicks, chips, and abrasions, commensurate with age and use. Otherwise, very nice.