item details
NameMatau (fish hook)
ProductionUnknown; craftsman; 1500-1800; New Zealand
Classificationfishhooks
Materialswhale bone (bone)
Materials Summarywhale bone
Techniquescarving
DimensionsOverall: 39mm (width), 78mm (height), 12mm (depth), 27.8g (weight)
Registration NumberME007939
Credit linePurchased 1931
Overview
This finely crafted one-piece double-barb fish hook is made from bone. The rounding of the inner and outer edges, evenly sited barbs with points that end exactly opposite the shank, and the curvature of the shank with a well-defined apex, come together creating a symmetrical, sculptural form.