The trade axehead, by Robert Sorby of Sheffield, England, is of 19th-century origin. The handle likely dates to the turn of the 20th century. Trade axes are uncommon in Melanesia.

REFERENCES

Force, Roland W., and Maryanne Force. The Fuller Collection of Pacific Artifacts.

London: Lund Humphries, 1971, p. 251 (no. 276982).

Greub, Suzanne. Expressions of Belief: Masterpieces of African, Oceanic, and Indonesian Art

from the Museum Voor Volkenkunde, Rotterdam. New York: Rizzoli, 1988, p. 124.

Phelps, Steven. Art and Artefacts of the Pacific, Africa and the Americas: The James Hooper

Collection. Arundel, Eng.: Totems Museum, 1976, pl. 148.