New Acquisitions

Sang-de-boeuf (literally ox blood) is one of a range of complex glazes developed in China with a copper colouring agent fired in a reducing atmosphere.

Complete patu, possibly unfinished. Mid-green pounamu. Handle tapers toward the butt. Surface is polished.

Complete adze. Black stone. Irregular cross-section. The surface is flaked and bruised, with ground areas on the lower front and back of the blade. There is no differentiation between the butt and the blade, apart from a tapering of the sides to the poll. The bevel is made distinct from the blade by an uneven ridge. The cutting edge is asymmetrical and chipped.

Complete adze. Brown stone. Oval cross-section. The surface is ground and bruised. There is no distinction between the blade and the butt. The bevel is smooth and continuous with the blade, with a small ridge on the proper left side. The blade narrows slightly towards the poll and also towards the cutting edge. The cutting edge is sharp and curved.

Adze roughout. Dark brown stone. Oval cross-section. The surface is mostly flaked and bruised. There is no distinction between the butt and the blade. The bevel is smooth and continuous with the blade. There are flake scars on the bevel. The cutting edge is chipped and curved.

Complete adze. Cross-section is oval. Surface is mostly ground. Sides and butt are bruised. No differentiation between and blade, sides taper towards poll. Bevel is demarcated by a ridge. Cutting edge is sharp and curved.

Nephrite/pounamu hei tiki, kawakawa variety, mid green and yellow. Two broken suspension holes at the proximal end, one on cheek and on above an eye, both drilled from both sides. Head is tilted to the right. Three-fingered hands on hips. Right leg broken at knee and repaired. Broken at the toes. Lower part heat treated.

Complete pounamu pendant. Dark green and translucent. Reduced and notched at the proximal end, with a suspension hole drilled from both sides. Curved to a dull point at the distal end.

Complete pounamu pendant. Light green. Surface is ground and edges are rounded. Large suspension hole at the proximal end, drilled from both sides.