Club (pakipaki)
Production date
Pre 1790
Country
Australia
State/Province
Queensland
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Object detail
Description
Club (probably Tongan) with a round shaft and paddle-shaped blade. Features incised patterns and schematized human figures. The handle is slightly flared at the butt, with no signs of use on the shaft, and there is no butt lug or attachment hole (for a wrist cord). Incised decorative elements include herring bone, basketry and banded zigzag motifs. Schematised figures in the uppermost panel (of blade) include four human figures holding weapons or ceremonial paraphernalia, and one figure wears a headdress; possibly denoting the semi-divine, supreme chief Tu'i Tonga. There is also a series of three schemata in a panel (possibly) representing a human birthing sequence; showing two human figures, one wearing a headdress.
Classification
ARCHAEOLOGY Maritime Archaeology
INDIGENOUS CULTURES Polynesian
INDIGENOUS CULTURES Polynesian
Maker
Production date
Pre 1790
Production place
Measurements
L 1065 x W 105 mm
Media/Materials description
Wood (Casuarina equisitifolia)
History and use
This club was recovered from HMS Pandora, a naval vessel sent from England in 1790 in pursuit of the HMS Bounty and its mutineers. Following navigation in the South Pacific, Pandora wrecked on the Great Barrier Reef in 1791 on its return voyage.
The Pandora shipwreck was discovered in 1977, and Queensland Museum conducted archaeological expeditions between 1983 and 1999 recovering many artefacts.
The club was collected by Pandora's officers and crew, among over 500 other cultural artefacts and natural history specimens.
The Pandora shipwreck was discovered in 1977, and Queensland Museum conducted archaeological expeditions between 1983 and 1999 recovering many artefacts.
The club was collected by Pandora's officers and crew, among over 500 other cultural artefacts and natural history specimens.
Registration number
MA4743
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