Te matau

human history

Te matau. Fish hook. This te matau is made of the following components: te rabatan te matau (shank), te tabon te matau (point), a stub of natural fibres and a bind of lashing. Te rabatan is made from te bwaeo (mother of pearl shell). It is pale yellow and off-white in colour with some shimmer. It has been filed into a length where one end has been tapered into a small point and the other end into a flat spatulate shape. It has been cut from the lip of the shell. This is defined by its depth where the small pointed end shows the ridge of the lip. Among this section a small circular perforation has been drilled into the side. This would be where te ao (line) would be inserted. A small circular cavity features in the flat side of te rabatan te matau. The spatulate end of te rabatan te matau has been utilized in lashing te tabon te matau (point) and a short stub of natural pale yellow fibres. Te tabon te matau is made from copper. It appears to have been worked into its current form, a slim cone-like form that curves towards the flat side of te rabatan te matau. It is dark brown in colour with some erosion at its base. An off-white thread has been used to lash it to te rabatan te matau. The flat side of te rabatan te matau is reflective of te bwaeo and features a deep circular cavity.

Accession number: 1936.295 Last Update: 30 Nov 2018
Other Name

Fish hook (English)

Accession Number

1936.295

Accession Date

1936

Other Id

23917.5 (ethnology)

Department

Pacific

Enquire API view
7 Images
Te matau, 1936.295, 23917.5, Photographed by Daan Hoffmann, digital, 29 Oct 2018, Cultural Permissions Apply Cultural Permissions Apply
View gallery ( 7)