Adze – Polynesian Stone Axe

Description

Oceanic Polynesian Stone Adze

Oceania: Melanesia: Solomon Islands: Polynesian outliers: French Polynesia, Marquesas Islands, Enata peoples, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Hawaii Stone Axe (Adze). Ground stone adzes are still in use by a variety of people in Irian Jaya (Indonesia), Papua New Guinea and some of the smaller Islands of Melanesia and Micronesia. The hard-stone is ground on a riverine rock with the help of water until it has got the desired shape. It is then fixed to a natural grown angled wood with resin and plant fibers. The shape and manufacture of these adzes is similar to those found from the Neolithic Stone Age in Europe.

Description

A lovely 20th Century Polynesian Adze, with a large beautiful stone celt of greenstone head bound to the V shape wood haft with wicker.

The heavy stone is removable although it was previously secured by the wicker to the wooden handle.

The haft is carved and stained with abstract motifs/exhibits abstract anthropomorphic symbols in red and blue

It measures about 56cm.

Time Period: 20^th C.

Origin: Polynesia

Materials: Green Stone, Wood Haft, and Wicker

Provenance: Private Collection, UK.

Adze Valuation

Genuine  valuation is typically based on some of the following criteria with the help of an expert:

1. Condition, (damages, repairs)
2. Authenticity and Provenance, (history of ownership)
3. Quality, (the type of material used, preservation, skill, aesthetics/beauty)
4. Uniqueness (the only one of its kind), rarity (occurs only in few locations)  affect value.

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Ref: Wikipedia: British Museum

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