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Presentation Axe Haft (Yonima), 20th Century
Massim culture; Woodlark Island or Calvados Chain…
Axe Haft Currency
Presentation Axe Haft (Yonima), 20th Century
Massim culture; Woodlark Island or Calvados Chain…
Presentation Axe Haft (Yonima), 20th Century Massim culture; Woodlark Island or Calvados Chain, Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea, Melanesia, Oceania Wood, fiber and fabric; 26 1/2 × 15 3/4 × 1 in. 2014.12.30 Collected on behalf of the Bowers Museum by the Roski-Keller-Martin Expedition

Axe Haft Currency

ClassificationsTools and Equipment-axes
Culture Massim
Date20th Century
Made AtMilne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea
Collection SiteMilne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea
MediumWood, fiber and fabric
Dimensions26 1/2 × 15 3/4 × 1 in. (67.3 × 40 × 2.5 cm)
Credit LineCollected on behalf of the Bowers Museum by the Roski-Keller-Martin Expedition
Object number2014.12.30
DescriptionThe purpose of such axe hafts is not a functional one. Rather, together with stone blades, these axes are a prestige item and a form of currency within the Massim area. The overall purpose of the haft of the axe is to display and set off the striking qualities of the blade, which is where the axe’s value lies. This particular haft is not as ornately carved as other examples. It appears as if the top of the haft is missing. This missing portion might have contained more detailed designs and openwork carving.
On View
Not on view
Axe Haft, mid 20th Century
Massim culture; Trobriand Island, Milne Bay Province, Papua New Gui…
Massim
mid 20th century
Presentation Axe Haft (Yonima), 20th Century
Massim culture; Woodlark Island or Calvados Chain…
Massim
20th Century
Presentation Axe Haft (Yonima), 20th Century
Massim culture; Woodlark Island or Calvados Chain…
Massim
20th Century
Presentation Axe Haft (Yonima), 20th Century
Massim culture; Woodlark Island or Calvados Chain…
Massim
20th Century
Presentation Axe Haft (Yonima), 20th Century
Massim culture; Woodlark Island or Calvados Chain…
Massim
20th Century
Presentation Axe Haft (Yonima), 20th Century
Massim culture; Woodlark Island or Calvados Chain…
Massim
20th Century
Presentation Axe Haft (Yonima), 20th Century
Massim culture; Woodlark Island or Calvados Chain…
Massim
20th Century
Presentation Axe Haft (Yonima), 20th Century
Massim culture; Woodlark Island or Calvados Chain…
Massim
20th Century
Presentation Axe, 19th Century
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Massim
19th Century
Presentation Exchange Axe, mid 20th Century
probably Massim; Woodlark Island, Milne Bay Provin…
Massim
mid 20th Century
Dance Axe, early to mid 20th Century
Mount Hagen, Southern Highlands Province, Papua New Guine…
early to mid 20th Century