Haches Tigo, Wuvulu Island (formerly Matty Island),... Lot 128

Haches Tigo, Wuvulu Island (formerly Matty Island), Bismark Islands Archipelago Papua New Guinea Wood, turtle rib blade Height: 40 and 51 cm Provenance: Daniel Vigne Collection: - Daniel Vigne Collection. Paris Typical and characteristic of Wuvulu Island creations. The cylindrical handle has a brown patina with mahogany nuances, and the rectangular blade is made of tortoise rib. While this type of object has an aesthetic classicism and an identifiable iconography, the use to which it was put remains uncertain. According to Count Festetics de Tolna, in his 1904 book (Vers l'Ecueil de Minicoy après huit ans dans l'Océan Pacifique et Indian Ocean aboard the yacht Tolna), this type of "hatchet made of turtle belly scales" was used "for digging pirogues". According to Kevin Conru, they were also used as spatulas for taro dishes (Art de l'Archipel Bismark. 2013, p. 132). More likely, according to R. & M. Force, this tool was used to cut breadfruit (The Fuller collection of Pacific Artifacts, 1971, p. 292).