Toki taraī
Department PacificAccession Date 1901Description Toki. Hafted adze. A polished toki (adze - triangular in cross section) of toka kerekere (black basalt) lashed to a long, carved wooden haft with a flared, conical-shaped…
Toki. Hafted adze. A polished toki (adze - triangular in cross section) of toka kerekere (black basalt) lashed to a long, carved wooden haft with a flared, conical-shaped base. Top of the haft carved out to accommodate the fitting of the toki. Lashing of puru akari (braided coconut sennit) of a flat iri taki toru (3-ply braid) lashed on to the top of the haft to secure the toki. Length of the wooden haft carved in a succession of large geometric shapes (cylinder, pyramid, stepped pyramid). Carved surface decoration applied to the entirety of the long wooden haft consisting of repeated horizontal rows of triangular motifs. Base of the haft is flared and conical in shape. Lashing is natural in colour. Carved wooden haft is brown in colour.