club, ball-headed

club, ball-headed

club, ball-headed

top image
Images
Introduction

A wooden ball-headed club with a long-tailed being carved over the elbow and ball. An 18th century type attributable to the Anishinaabe or Haudenosaunee/Hodenosaunee. Held at the Cambridge University Museum of Archaeology of Anthropology.

Nation of Maker: Anishinaabe Hodenosaunee/Haudenosaunee
Reasons for connecting this relative with particular nation(s)

Based on style.

Date Made or Date Range: Early 18 C to Late 18 C
Summary of Source(s) for this Relative

Museum documentation and the GRASAC research team.

Materials

wood; glass beads, opaque white; native tanned hide thong; metal; possibly traces of red ochre

Techniques or Format

This club is carved from single piece of wood. The handle end is carved at an oblique angle with a scalloped profile. There is a long tailed animal carved along the elbow and ball, with two white glass beads inserted for eyes. There are two notches carved adjacent to the inner edge of the elbow. A native tanned thong has been tied through a hole in handle. The metal wedges used to hold metal spike, which is now missing, are still in place around the rectangular slot carved into the ball, where the spike would have fit.

Motifs and Patterns

A long-tailed being.

Condition: Very good. The spike is missing.
Reasons for connecting this relative with particular times, materials, styles and uses

The use of white glass beads as eyes and the style of carving is typical of this period.

Current Location: Cambridge University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, UK
Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: Z 35160
Date of Acquisition by the Institution: unknown
GKS Reference Number: 26348
How to Cite this Item

Unknown Anishinaabe/Hodenosaunee/Haudenosaunee artist, club, ball-headed. Currently in the Cambridge University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Z 35160. Item photographed and described as part of a GRASAC research trip May 2009; GRASAC item id 26348.

Record Creation Context

This record was created as part of a GRASAC visit to Cambridge University 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

Do You Have Knowledge to Contribute? Share with Us.