16/1996/99
A stone head that would have been bound to a wooden haft and used in carving.
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25/1974/8
This carefully ground and polished adze would have taken a craftsman many hours of work to complete.
23/1925/2
A stone adze head that would have been used for carving large pieces of wood.
116/1961/2
Nephrite continues to be valued for its rarity and beauty.
A647
This is a ground and polished stone adze from Canada.
33/1953/8a
Originally adzes of this kind were a form of god image, possibly related to Tane-mata-ariki.
33/1953/8b
Adzes of this kind were a form of god image, possibly related to Tane-mata-ariki.
573/2007/2
573/2007/3
47/2010/2
Highly polished blade of volcanic stone.
47/2010/3
47/2010/4
The hard, glassy volcanic lava from which this adze is made might be from New Zealand’s North Island.
E1760
Tattooing was practised throughout Polynesia.
136/2000/30
Adze consisting of wooden shaft with metal-encased butt and a decorated head.
49/1949/89
A small stone adze for refining the carving work done by larger adzes.
29/1948/3
Prior to the availability of metal tools stone was the main domestic tool for carving.
29/1948/4
109/1951/8
109/1951/9a
109/1951/9b
109/1938/1
A lightweight and well-balanced adze, probably used in wood-carving.
A660
This is a ground and polished stone axe head from Canada.
42/1986
A wooden haft and binding ready to be attached to a thick stone blade that would be used for carving canoes and other large wooden structures.
96/1995/1
A missing cutting stone would have been mounted onto the haft of this adze and bound tight into place.
96/1995/2
The main cutting stone would have been mounted onto the haft of this adze.
116/1961/1
This carved adze haft has eyes made from paua shell.
79/1991/2
A fine basalt adze that was attached to a haft to carve large pieces of wood e.
79/1991/3
79/1991/4
49/1949/86
