Image
This beautiful tā whakairo (carving mallet) is 23.5 centimetres long, and is made from whalebone. The end of the handle has been carved into a stylised representation of a face. This mallet was made around 1800. Many present-day carving mallets are very similar in shape.
Using this item
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Reference: ME0121872
Permission of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa must be obtained before any re-use of this image.