19th C. Mortlock Island Wood / Carapace Taro Axe

**Originally Listed At $1200**

Oceania, Micronesia, Mortlock Island, ca. mid to late 19th century CE. A sturdy wooden axe used to harvest taro with a handle carved from lightweight wood and a blade formed from the carapace of a turtle. The handle is long and slender and boasts a thin panel comprised of two parallel columns of grooved triangular forms. The blade has a trio of small circular perforations and is secured to the top of the handle with a tightly-wrapped cord made from sennit fibers. Taro is a staple in Polynesian and Micronesian cultures, and its successful cultivation is the result of centuries of arduous labor and agricultural prowess. Size: 6.375" W x 18.3" H (16.2 cm x 46.5 cm).

Note: Export of this item will require a CITES permit and may delay shipment.

Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection

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#136649
Condition Report: Surface wear and abrasions commensurate with age and use, small nicks to blade and handle, with some darkening and normal age wear to carapace blade, and light roughness along blade surfaces. Light earthen deposits throughout. Handle has great smooth patina.