Adze

This is part of an Adze in the museum collection.  I am intrigued by the way in which different materials were used and joined together.  Here very finely plaited plant fibres, possibly either coconut or flax, are intricately wound to join the basalt head of the adze to the carved shaft.

It comes from the Pacific region and this example is possibly ceremonial.

Precious Cargo - Stories of the World in Yorkshire

Our project Bringing the world to Whitby is looking at the history and the heritage of selected objects in Whitby Museum and where they are from.  Some pieces may have a special meaning to one person as well as having a shared history that can be appreciated by many people.  Some of the objects were brought from cultures on the other side of the world at a time when few people had opportunities to travel.  Some of those places and cultures are now under threat due to changes in society, technology and the environment.


In this blog we hope to share some ideas about these objects and explore links to other museum collections.


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