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Flutes appear in most parts of Oceania. They are predominantly made of bamboo and can be side-blown, like Western flutes, or end-blown. The kōauau flutes of Aotearoa (New Zealand) were often beautifully and intricately carved and suspended from the neck as personal adornment when not being played.
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Title: Kooauau
Date: early 19th century
Geography: New Zealand
Culture: Maori
Medium: wood
Dimensions: 6 × 1 1/4 × 1 3/4 in. (15.2 × 3.2 × 4.4 cm)
Classification: Aerophone-Whistle Flute
Credit Line: The Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments, 1889
Accession Number: 89.4.2636
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