condensed discuss document expanded export feedback print share remove reset document_white enquire_white export_white report_white

Collections Online

Collections record

discuss document export feedback print share gallery-landscape xml

Rabatan te matau

human history
  • Other Name

    Fish hook shank (English)

  • Description

    Rabatan te matau. Shank of a fish hook. Cut from te bwaeao (mother of pearl shell) in a narrow strip that is spatulate in shape. The rabatan (shank) is intended to be used within a composite fish hook for trolling and would have had a point lashed to the tapered end. The broad end of the rabatan has two drilled holes, stacked one above the other, that would have been used to attach a snood and/or a te ao (fishing line) to the hook.

    The tapered end has serrated edges, which would have been used to secure the lashing for the point of the matau (fish hook). The rabatan is off-white in colour with a high sheen. It is smooth surfaced with some abrasions and dark markings. Apart from the tapered end, the edges have been ground down smooth and are rougly polished. There is a small, central black furrow on the inner surface of the shell at the tapered end of the shank.

  • Place
    Beru/Gilbert Islands/Kiribati Onotoa/Gilbert Islands/Kiribati
  • Accession Number
    1936.295
  • Accession Date
    1936
  • Other Id

    23921.1 (ethnology)

  • Department

    Pacific

Rabatan te matau, 1936.295, 23921.1, Photographed by Daan… … Read more

Images and documents

Images

  • Rabatan te matau, 1936.295, 23921.1, Photographed by Daan Hoffmann, digital, 02 Nov 2018, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • Rabatan te matau, 1936.295, 23921.1, Photographed by Daan Hoffmann, digital, 02 Nov 2018, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • Rabatan te matau, 1936.295, 23921.1, Photographed by Daan Hoffmann, digital, 02 Nov 2018, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • Rabatan te matau, 1936.295, 23921.1, Photographed by Daan Hoffmann, digital, 02 Nov 2018, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • Rabatan te matau, 1936.295, 23921.1, Photographed by Daan Hoffmann, digital, 02 Nov 2018, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • Rabatan te matau, 1936.295, 23921.1, Photographed by Daan Hoffmann, digital, 02 Nov 2018, Cultural Permissions Apply
  • fishing hook
  • fishing hook
  • fishing hook

Artefact

The development of the Auckland War Memorial Museum online collection is an ongoing process; updates, new images and records are added weekly. In some cases, records have yet to be confirmed by Museum staff, and there could be mistakes or omissions in the information provided.

The gift of curiosity

With unlimited free entry to all paid exhibitions, discounted event tickets and exclusive Member-only events, a Museum Membership is the gift that keeps on giving year-round.

SEE OPTIONS FROM $60

The gift of curiosity