Accession No

TEMP.03674


Description

Short hand club with flared ends and rounded head, incorporating facial features on one side. With prominent arching eyebrows, deep-set eyes inlaid with pearl shell and wooden peg pupils. Line designs around mouth and eyes, possibly referencing tattoo designs. Multi-stranded plaited coconut fibre cords at base, inserted through pierced hole in base.


Place

Oceania; Polynesia; ?Rapa Nui; ?Aotearoa New Zealand


Period


Source


Department

Anth


Reference Numbers

TEMP.03674


Cultural Affliation

?Māori


Material

wood; shell; resin; coconut fibre


Local Term


Measurements

100mm x 60mm x 620mm


Events

Context (References)
Probably based on the paoa, a short hand club, with bifacial pommel, related to threputu-type clubs of Aotearoa New Zealand,
cf Steve Hooper (ed) 2021 Power and Prestige: The art of clubs in Oceania. Skira and Fondazione Giancarlo Ligabue, Venice, fig 18, p. 45
Event Date 13/5/2025
Author: rachel hand


Description (Physical description)
Modern circular label with metal edge notes ' No Number. Easter Is? 2 ceremony objects'
Event Date 13/5/2025
Author: rachel hand


Description (Physical description)
Short hand club with flared ends and rounded head, incorporating facial features on one side. With prominent arching eyebrows, deep-set eyes inlaid with pearl shell and wooden peg pupils, straight nose and open mouth. Line designs around mouth and eyes, possibly referencing tattoo designs.
Carved in hardwood. Pierced at base for coconut fibre cord. Diagonal and X-designs at base.
Event Date 13/5/2025
Author: rachel hand


Description (Labels & Markings)
cf See cloth label attached to TEMP which noted 'Deposit/ ?New Zealand/ A von Hügel'.
Written on the other side 'Not Maori probably modern Easter Is work' signed 'H.D.S' [Henry Devenish Skinner]
Event Date 13/5/2025
Author: rachel hand


Description (Labels & Markings)
Modern label notes 'Peter Gathercole says probably modern Easter Island. N.B. Eyes not paua shell'.

Event Date 13/5/2025
Author: rachel hand


FM:326926

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