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Toki kauagati

human history
  • Other Name

    Adze, tridacna shell (English)

  • Description

    Toki kauagati. Clam shell adze. Adzes are used for carving wood into many useful objects, including vaka (canoes), construction of fale (houses), and for smaller domestic objects. This toki is worked from kauagati (tridacna shell). In the atolls of Tokelau where sourcing volcanic stone is not possible, toki made from kauagati, or giant clam shells, are the favoured option. According to the label, this toki was made by Timi.

    Off-white in colour, the toki kauagati is wider at its cutting edge and narrows towards the butt end. It is bent and uneven in profile due to the natural grooves of the shell. The cutting edge is smooth and sharp with a chipped bevel. The outward facing surface of the toki kauagati is wavy with raised surface texture, while its underside is smooth and matte.

  • Place
    Fakaofo/Tokelau Islands/Polynesia/Pacific
  • Accession Number
    1970.208
  • Accession Date
    1970
  • Other Id

    43924 (ethnology)

  • Department

    Pacific

Toki kauagati, 1970.208, 43924, Cultural Permissions Apply

Images and documents

Images

  • Toki kauagati, 1970.208, 43924, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • Toki kauagati, 1970.208, 43924, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • Toki kauagati, 1970.208, 43924, Cultural Permissions Apply

Artefact

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