Axe Item Number: Ac246 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Brown wood shaft with one end blackened, large, angled while the other end has a rounded knob which is elbow-like and flaring. Swirling grain and burled top. Attached by tang through the knob's middle is a slightly flaring thick metal blade. Blade begins as recessed from thick tang. Blade's flattened surfaces face right and left and are decorated with evenly-spaced double notches. Base of butt end is incised with evenly-spaced vertical and horizontal lines.
History Of Use
Axes have a wide range of uses, including cutting meat, bones, trees, branches and bushes. They were mostly used for cutting down trees and branches, and to clear bushes to prepare land for farming. In largely forested areas, sometimes "slash and burn" is the preferred method for clearing lands for agriculture.
Cultural Context
utilitarian
Narrative
The collector, Nellie Taylor, served as a nursing missionary (1900-1920), first with the Ovimbundu at Bihe, then with the Chokwe at luma Kasai. She belonged to a group who sponsored several missions across Central Africa from 1881-1931.
Item History
- Made in Luma Kasai, Angola before 1920
- Collected between 1900 and 1920
- Owned by Nellie Taylor
- Owned by Gladys G. Cameron before January 12, 1979
- Received from Gladys G. Cameron (Donor) on January 12, 1979
What
Who
- Culture
- Chokwe
- Previous Owner
- Nellie Taylor and Gladys G. Cameron
- Received from
- Gladys G. Cameron (Donor)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- Luma Kasai, Angola
When
- Creation Date
- before 1920
- Collection Date
- between 1900 and 1920
- Ownership Date
- before January 12, 1979
- Acquisition Date
- on January 12, 1979
Other
- Item Classes
- metalwork
- Condition
- fair
- Accession Number
- 0509/0019