Hatchet
Unknown Artist
Medium
Nephrite
Dimensions
L. 4 1/8 in. (10.5 cm); W. 2 1/4 in. (5.7 cm); D. 1 in. (2.5 cm)
Classification
Jade
Culture
Papua New Guinea (Huon Gulf)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Heber R. Bishop, 1902
Accession Number
02.18.291
Art Historical Context
This finely crafted nephrite hatchet from the Huon Gulf region Papua New Guinea exemplifies the stoneworking traditions of Oceanic cultures. Carved from nephrite—a tough, resilient form of jade prized for its durability and lustrous green hue—the tool measures a compact 4⅛ inches long, making it ideal for precise woodworking or ceremonial use. Its smooth, polished surfaces and ergonomic shape highlight the skill of an unknown artisan, who transformed raw stone into a functional yet aesthetically striking object. In Huon Gulf societies, such jade hatchets (often called adzes) held deep cultura...