An extremly rare and large Master-Carvers axe. The shell blade is set into a spurred wood sleeve and retained with fiber binding. The sleeve fits into a slot in the upper, spurred section of the handle.

Matty Island (Wuvulu), PNG, Para-Micronesia.

Giant clam shell (tridacnea giga), wood, & rattan (consolidation with three nails).

74 x 42 x 5 cm.19th century.

Ex coll.: Lorenze Eckert, N° inv. 163, with pencil inscription in German on blade “…Matty Ins…“.