Wood & Stone Adze early to mid-20th century CE

early to mid-20th century CE

Nephrite blade 7 inches x 1 7/8 inches

Oil on board

plate signed bottom right

The figure wears a caplike helmet with spikes

Wood & Stone Adze early to mid-20th century CEOceania, Papua New Guinea, ca. early to mid 20th century CE. A fine example of a wood and stone chopping adze, a tool primarily used for shaping and carving wood. The adze features a wooden handle and a naturally forked or "T" shaped head with a slotted tip. The stone blade head is secured within the hafting slot on the arm and secured with wrapped rattan strips. Adzes were some of the most important tools in Polynesia and Melanesia given their