Ruatangaeo (Hafted adze)

Ruatangaeo. Hafted adze. Toki (adze - triangular in cross section) of basalt toka (stone) lashed with finely braided puru akari (coconut sennit) to an intricately carved rakau (wooden) haft with a squared pedestal base. The toki is carved and polished at the blade and left roughly pecked at the poll. Upper area of the poll is covered with a piece of shark skin between the toki and the lashing. K-form carving motifs (signature Mangaian carving motif) carved onto the rakau pedestal, among other geometric motifs.