item details
NameToki pounamu (nephrite adze blade)
ProductionUnknown; stonemason; 1450-1650; New Zealand
Classificationadzes, toki, hand tools, blades
Materialspounamu
Materials SummaryManufactured by hand using stone, sandstone, and water.
Techniqueslapidary
DimensionsOverall: 63mm (width), 314mm (length), 22mm (depth)
Registration NumberME002965
Credit lineGift of Alexander Turnbull, 1913
Overview
This is a well-made, long and narrow toki (adze) pounamu (New Zealand greenstone). It has a hole through which cord could be threaded for easy transportation by suspending it from the wearer's neck.
Toki poutangata
Large toki such as this were important wood carving tools. They also played an important role in tribal ceremonial ritual associated with adzing, tree-felling, and even execution. Examples such as this were often hafted to elaborately carved handles and became toki poutangata (ceremonial adzes), to be wielded by rangatira (chiefs) and tohunga (spiritual leaders and master craftsmen).