club, ball-headed

club, ball-headed

club, ball-headed

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Introduction

A ball-headed club with a face on the ball, which is the head of an animal holding the ball in its mouth. Elaborate incised carving on the shaft depicts a scene of warfare. Anishinaabe or Haudenosaunee/Hodenosaunee, probably made for sale between the end of the War of 1812 and the mid 19th century. Given to the Cambridge University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology by Robert Edmund Froude, who bought the club at Webster's sale rooms.

Nation of Maker: Anishinaabe Hodenosaunee/Haudenosaunee
Nation of Origin

Based on style.

Date Made or Date Range: 1820 to 1860
Summary of Source(s) for this Relative

Museum documentation and the GRASAC research team.

Materials

wood; paint, red and black.

Techniques or Format

This club is carved from one piece of wood. Its shaft is flat, with three heart and leaf-like forms cut out of the handle. The end of the handle is obliquely slanted and cut in a scalloped contour. The jaws of the animal holding the ball are also cut out. Cross-hatching and oval and triangular chip carving, with black and red pigment, decorates the club. There is a hole for a thong in the handle.

Motifs and Patterns

The ball is carved as an anthropomorphic head with protruding tongue. The ball appears to be held in the jaws of an animal, probably a serpent because of the horn carved on one side next to the jaw. On one side of the shaft are three bands of cross-hatching alternating with triangles, and cut-out hearts with wavy lines along the edges. The other side has (from the ball end) an incised image of a ball-headed club, a narrative scene with four figures and a catfish (one figure has a club raised in his left hand and stands next to a falling figure. The other two figures stand on the other side of this pair). There are also seven figures standing to the left, separated by triple vertical lines, two of whom are holding hands.

Other Notes

This club would not have been strong enough to be used as an actual weapon. There are 17th century examples of ceremonial weapons with faces on the balls and this club probably belongs to that tradition.

Dimensions: 62 × 18 × 0 cm
Condition: Good. The serpent being's ears have broken off.
Reasons for connecting this relative with particular times, materials, styles and uses

The elaborate carving and heart motifs suggest it was made for sale to curiosity collectors during this period.

Current Location: Cambridge University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, UK
Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: E 1895.30
Date of Acquisition by the Institution: 1895
Who the Institution Acquired the Relative or Heritage Item From: Given by Robert Edmund Froude, bought at Webster's sale rooms '6.one pound
Collection Narratives and Histories

Given to Cambridge University's Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology in Robert Edmund Froude, who bought the club at Webster's sale rooms.

GKS Reference Number: 24493
How to Cite this Item

Unknown Anishinaabe/Hodenosaunee/Haudenosaunee artist, club, ball-headed. Currently in the Cambridge University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, E 1895.30. Item photographed and described as part of a GRASAC research trip May 2009; GRASAC item id 24493.

Record Creation Context

This record was created as part of a GRASAC visit to Cambridge University's Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, May 4-9 2009.

Record Creation Notes/Observations

Researchers present: Trudy Nicks, Stacey Loyer, Ruth Phillips, and Rachel Hand.

Approximate Place of Origin

45.8, -83.9

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