Matau

human history

Matau. One piece pearl shell fish hook. Carved with a knob to the side of the top of the shaft. No line attached. The matau is made from parau (pearl shell) with a sharpened point and barb. The parau is dark in colour on one side and yellow in colour on the other. According to the ethnology card was " brought back by Geo. Bennet and deposited in the Duke of Leeds Collection". Illustrated in "Polynesian Artifacts", pl 37.

Accession number: 1950.128 Last Update: 18 Jun 2018
Other Name

Fish Hook (English)

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

1950.128

Accession Date

04 Jul 1950

Other Id

31524 (ethnology)

453 (Oldman Collection)

Department

Pacific

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fish hook, 1950.128, 31524, 453, Photographed by Andrew Hales, digital, 11 Jan 2018, Cultural Permissions Apply
fish hook, 1950.128, 31524, 453, Photographed by Andrew Hales, digital, 11 Jan 2018, Cultural Permissions Apply Cultural Permissions Apply
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