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Matau (fish hook)

Object | Part of Taonga Māori collection

OL000105; Matau (fish hook); 1800-1850; Ngai Tahu (attributed); Unknown; Shank is recorded as being made from native hardwood that has been trained to curve while still growing as a sapling. The underside of the shank has been notched giving it a se ; vi
OL000105; Matau (fish hook); 1800-1850; Ngai Tahu (attributed); Unknown; Shank is recorded as being made from native hardwood that has been trained to curve while still growing as a sapling. The underside of the shank has been notched giving it a se ; vi
OL000105; Matau (fish hook); 1800-1850; Ngai Tahu (attributed); Unknown; Shank is recorded as being made from native hardwood that has been trained to curve while still growing as a sapling. The underside of the shank has been notched giving it a se ; vi
OL000105; Matau (fish hook); 1800-1850; Ngai Tahu (attributed); Unknown; Shank is recorded as being made from native hardwood that has been trained to curve while still growing as a sapling. The underside of the shank has been notched giving it a se ; vi
Matau (fish hook) OL000105
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item details

NameMatau (fish hook)
ProductionUnknown; carver; early 19th century; New Zealand
Classificationfishhooks
Materialsbone, wood, cord
Materials Summarywood, bone, fibre
Techniqueswoodcarving
DimensionsOverall: 100mm (width), 127mm (length), 58.05g (weight)
Registration NumberOL000105
Credit lineOldman Collection. Gift of the New Zealand Government, 1992

Overview

This large, composite fish hook has a curved wooden shank fashioned from a native hardwood sapling that was carefully restrained so that it would grow into the required shape.

An intricate object
The underside of the shank has been notched to give it a serrated edge. The shaft has been adorned with a small, well-carved head, to which a length of cord (aho) is attached. The barb is made from bone, probably albatross bone, and has been carefully worked into a finely serrated point. It has been bound to the shank with muka (flax fibre) cord, with small strips of raupo leaf inserted in-between to help set the binding.

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