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1884.10.10

Adze for chopping bread-fruit, shaped from one piece of wood.

On display

1884.10.10

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Collection type
Object
Description
Adze for chopping bread-fruit, shaped from one piece of wood.
Date / Period
Date made: Possibly before 1881
Date collected
?Prior to 1881
Acquisition information
Donated: 1884
Materials and processes
Material Wood Plant, Process Carved
Dimensions
Height: max 380 mm, Length: max 122 mm head
Object numbers
Accession number: 1884.10.10 Other numbers: 135 PR no.: 662/ 12394
Research and responses

A number of objects in the founding collection associated with the number 12394 are linked in their documentation with the Anthropological Institute, whose collection General Pitt-Rivers acquired in 1881. [AP Leverhulme project on founding collection 1995-1998; JC 21 2 2013]

'... while the Institute has a most valuable collection of skulls and skeletons, it has on the other hand never succeeded in collecting an ethnographical museum of any educational value. A few articles, not unfamiliar to the visitors of any large ethnographical museum, such as weapons, dresses, models &c., have been presented to the Society at various times, but while they have occupied much wall space in the rooms of the Institute, and thus cramped the library, they are neither sufficient in number nor capable of arrangement in any order complete enough to serve the purpose intended. Upon a careful review of the whole of the circumstances, therefore, the Council have resolved that it would be the wisest course for the Institute to devote all spare funds to the enlargement of the Library, and to maintain the collection of skulls and skeletons, but to give up the attempt, which they are convinced would be a hopeless one, to establish any sufficiently large and comprehensive ethnographical museum. Their view was confirmed by the independent professional opinion of a valuer nominated by an eminent firm, who estimated the value of all the ethnographical specimens referred to at only £45. ... The Council resolved, therefore, subject to the approval of this meeting, to accept two offers, amounting together to £54, or £9 more than the valuer's estimate, viz: one of £14 from Mr Franks, curator of the Christy Collection, for the Burmese gong, and one of £40 from Major-General Pitt Rivers for the other objects, with the view of their being ultimately deposited at South Kensington. ...' [Report of the Council of the Anthropological Institute ...' [JAI, vol 10 (1881) 438-9] [AP 6/12/2005]

Associated publications
Listed on page 1,802 of 'Appendix II-B. Adziform Breadfruit or Coconut Splitters: Rhomboid Hafts' in 'The Material Culture of Ancient Tahiti', by Roger Rose (Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University, Ph.D. thesis, 1971). (Noted as not being available for measurement.) [JC 6 11 2012]

Search terms: Tool, Agriculture and Horticulture, Food and Drink, Adze, Food Accessory, Agricultural Tool