Institute for Biodiversity Science and Sustainability

CAS Anthropology Collections Database


Catalog Number

CAS 1984-0008-0324   CAS 1984-0008-0324; Knife
Category Culinary Items
Object Name Knife
Culture Melanesian: ni-Vanuatu
Global Region Oceania
Country Vanuatu (New Hebrides)
State/Prov./Dist. unknown
County
Other Geographic Data Northern Vanuatu (probably)
Maker's Name Unknown
Date of Manufacture ca. 1926
Collection Name Rollo Beck Collection (South Pacific)
Materials Wood
Description Carved knife of the type used for cutting and serving pudding-like foods, especially in a ritual context; The straight doubled-edged blade is bi-convex in transverse cross-section and its lateral edges are parallel for most of its length before tapering to a rounded point near the distal end; Narrow ridge carved in low relief and located just below midpoint marks division between the knife blade and the handle; Lateral edges of handle are slightly thicker than those of the blade and they taper very gradually toward the truncated proximal end; Both blade and handle are stained a dark brown color.
Dimensions (cm) Width = 4.8, Thickness = 0.9, Length = 40.3