MAORI, New Zealand, XVIIIᵉ century. - Lot 71

MAORI, New Zealand, XVIIIᵉ century. Rare and archaic quadrangular axe blade (toki), carved and polished in veined and speckled hardstone. Its irregular, powerful shaping reveals great antiquity and testifies to prolonged use. Hard stone (D'Urville Island argillite, probably Ohana quarry), old wear marks. Dimensions: 8.5 × 8.5 × 8.5 cm Provenance: Found by a previous owner on his property in Whakatane in 1972. Michael Hamson, Palos Verdes Estates, California. Michael Evans, Tribal Art, Mass. Māori axe blades, called toki when fitted, were essential tools and feared weapons, but they also had a ceremonial and symbolic dimension. The stone, often extracted from renowned quarries such as those on D'Urville Island, was carefully selected for its hardness and chromatic qualities, which enhanced the object's value. Used to shape pirogues, build meeting houses or assert a chief's authority, these blades also concentrated mana, the spiritual power passed down through generations. The archaic quality and wear of this specimen make it a precious witness to uses at the crossroads of tool, weapon and prestige badge.