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85/1702 Ice axe, timber, taken on Dr Douglas Mawson's Australasian Antarctic Expedition, 1911-1914, used by the expedition zoologist, John George Hunter, maker unknown. Click to enlarge.
  • Image 1 of 8, 85/1702 Ice axe, timber, taken on Dr Douglas Mawson's Australasian Antarctic Expedition, 1911-1914, used by the expedition zoologist, John George Hunter, maker unknown. Click to enlarge
  • Image 2 of 8, 85/1702 Ice axe, timber, taken on Dr Douglas Mawson's Australasian Antarctic Expedition, 1911-1914, used by the expedition zoologist, John George Hunter, maker unknown. Click to enlarge
  • Image 3 of 8, 85/1702 Ice axe, timber, taken on Dr Douglas Mawson's Australasian Antarctic Expedition, 1911-1914, used by the expedition zoologist, John George Hunter, maker unknown. Click to enlarge
  • Image 4 of 8, 85/1702 Ice axe, timber, taken on Dr Douglas Mawson's Australasian Antarctic Expedition, 1911-1914, used by the expedition zoologist, John George Hunter, maker unknown. Click to enlarge
  • +4
    Image 5 of 8, 85/1702 Ice axe, timber, taken on Dr Douglas Mawson's Australasian Antarctic Expedition, 1911-1914, used by the expedition zoologist, John George Hunter, maker unknown. Click to enlarge
  • Image 6 of 8, 85/1702 Ice axe, timber, taken on Dr Douglas Mawson's Australasian Antarctic Expedition, 1911-1914, used by the expedition zoologist, John George Hunter, maker unknown. Click to enlarge
  • Image 7 of 8, 85/1702 Ice axe, timber, taken on Dr Douglas Mawson's Australasian Antarctic Expedition, 1911-1914, used by the expedition zoologist, John George Hunter, maker unknown. Click to enlarge
  • Image 8 of 8, 85/1702 Ice axe, timber, taken on Dr Douglas Mawson's Australasian Antarctic Expedition, 1911-1914, used by the expedition zoologist, John George Hunter, maker unknown. Click to enlarge

Ice axe used on Dr Douglas Mawson's Australasian Antarctic Expedition

This wooden ice axe was used on Dr Douglas Mawson's 1911-1914 Australasian Antarctic Expedition (AAE) by the 23-year-old Sydney science graduate, John George Hunter (1888-1964), who was the expedition's biologist.

An ice axe is a multi-purpose tool for use in snow and ice. It features a long wooden handle, with a pick for cutting hand and foot holds in ice, and an adze for cutting steps in snow or water ice. At the opposite end is a spike to enable the ice axe to be used as a walking stick …

Summary

Object No.

85/1702

Object Statement

Ice axe, timber, taken on Dr Douglas Mawson's Australasian Antarctic Expedition, 1911-1914, used by the expedition zoologist, John George Hunter, maker unknown

Physical Description

Ice axe, timber, taken on Dr Douglas Mawson's Australasian Antarctic Expedition, 1911-1914, used by the expedition zoologist, John George Hunter, maker unknown

This ice axe comprises a pick and adze at one end of a long wooden shaft with a spike at the other end. The corroded metal head is attached to the wooden shaft by two metal supports. The top half has been broken off and been reglued. There is a leather band around the shaft.

Short URL

https://ma.as/35566

Dimensions

Height

1051 mm

Width

170 mm

Depth

42 mm

Source

Credit Line

Gift of J Hunter, 1985

Acquisition Date

29 August 1985

Cite this Object

Harvard

Ice axe used on Dr Douglas Mawson's Australasian Antarctic Expedition 2023, Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences, accessed 26 March 2023, <https://ma.as/35566>

Wikipedia

{{cite web |url=https://ma.as/35566 |title=Ice axe used on Dr Douglas Mawson's Australasian Antarctic Expedition |author=Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences |access-date=26 March 2023 |publisher=Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences, Australia}}

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