Hand Adze with Blade
Arts of the Americas
MEDIUM
Hardwood, bear bone, twine, pigment, iron
DATES
19th century
DIMENSIONS
4 1/4 x 2 1/4 x 11 1/2 in. (10.8 x 5.7 x 29.2 cm)
(show scale)
ACCESSION NUMBER
08.491.8874
CREDIT LINE
Museum Expedition 1908, Museum Collection Fund
CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION
This is a hand adze composed of a carved wood handle, bear shin bone blade and commercial twine wrapped around both to bind together. The wood handle iconography has the top of a wolf's head with the upper torsos of a pair of dancers wearing wolf masks. These masks usually come in pairs (See 08.491.8905a,b). According to Culin collecting records the bone blade replaced an iron blade (2908:84). According to Bill Holm, Northwest Coast specialist, the twine is commercial and unabraded which indicates the adze has never been used in this form. The handle shows a wear pattern of the hand that used it and is softly worn.
MUSEUM LOCATION
This item is not on view
CAPTION
Nuu-chah-nulth, Ehattesaht. Hand Adze with Blade, 19th century. Hardwood, bear bone, twine, pigment, iron, 4 1/4 x 2 1/4 x 11 1/2 in. (10.8 x 5.7 x 29.2 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Expedition 1908, Museum Collection Fund, 08.491.8874. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 08.491.8874_acetate_bw.jpg)
IMAGE
overall, 08.491.8874_acetate_bw.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph
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RIGHTS STATEMENT
Creative Commons-BY
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