Matau

human history

Matau. One piece pearl shell fish hook. The surface of the parau (pearl shell) is polished, and of a mottled dark and light yellow iridescent colour, finished to a sharpened point. A short piece of line made from braided 3 ply nape (coconut sennit) is attached to the top of the pearl shell hook with plant fibre seizing, knotted at the end. The line is brown in colour. Illustrated in "Polynesian Artifacts", pl 37.

Accession number: 1950.128 Last Update: 13 May 2025
Other Name

Fish Hook (English)

Place
Tahiti/Society Islands/French Polynesia/Pacific
Accession Number

1950.128

Accession Date

04 Jul 1950

Other Id

31520 (ethnology)

451/14 (Oldman Collection)

Department

Pacific

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fish hook, 1950.128, 31520, 451/14, Photographed by Andrew Hales, digital, 11 Jan 2018, Cultural Permissions Apply
fish hook, 1950.128, 31520, 451/14, Photographed by Andrew Hales, digital, 11 Jan 2018, Cultural Permissions Apply Cultural Permissions Apply
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