club, ball-headed

club, ball-headed

club, ball-headed

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Introduction

Ball-headed war club carved from wood, with iron spike set into the ball. Although this club features motifs that are suggestive of Anishinaabe, it is believed to be a European replica based on the construction and use of a compass. 

This ball-headed club currently resides in the Musée du quai Branly, Jacques Chirac, Paris, France. 

Name of Maker(s): Unrecorded
Maker role: Artist
Nation of Origin

Ruth Philips: based on style, this relative may be Anishanaabe, including the presence of otters, as otter iconography is classic Anishinaabe.

Date Made or Date Range: 17 C to Mid 18 C
Summary of Source(s) for this Relative

Musée du quai Branly

Materials

Wood and metal: CW: maple wood, possible. Alan Corbiere: iron spike.

Techniques or Format

One piece of carved wood, with a metal spike attached and embedded in the face. Spike attached attached with wooden peg and paper or natural fibre packing. Of weapon weight (i.e.) hardwood, meant to be used.

Motifs and Patterns

The ball is carved as a face with slight concavity for the two eyes (round indentations) which may have held glass beads. Mouth or whiskers extend out the sides. The heads of the otters are carved in the round and may also suggest ears for the face on the ball, suggesting a visual pun if that is the case. On one side, there is anthropomorphic form carved as a square with a round head, and a row of 9 joined x's and 4 more on the handle. On verso, are initials F and N or H. with periods: 2 in ink. There is also a row of 9 small x's adjacent to the tail of the otter, and 9 again on the shaft, and 4 again on the handle.

Additional Context

Ruth Phillips notes presence of otters which is distinctly Anishinaabe.

Other Notes

Note: This record originally indicated that the club was likely Anishinaabe in origin. With thanks to Nikolaus Stolle for the correction via the GRASAC webform, this has since been amended as the ball-headed club is believed to be a European replica based on the construction (wood), the use of a compass, etc.

Dimensions: 6 × 0 × 0 cm
Condition: Excellent.
Reasons for connecting this relative with particular times, materials, styles and uses

CW: spike might be diagnostic because of the way the metal was forged.
RW: goes for earlier date because of iconography.

Current Location: Musée du quai Branly - Jacques Chirac, Paris, France
Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: 71.1917.3.10 D
Collection Narratives and Histories

Déposant: Musée de l'Armée, inventaire 2013.0.162; Précédente collection: Musée de l'Homme (Amérique), inventaire 17.3.10.

Source for Provenance information

Musée du quai Branly

Exhibition History

"Premières Nations, Collections Royales," at the Musée du quai Branly, February 13 - May 13, 2007; "Ethnographie du Canada, des U.S.A., de la Guyane et du Brésil" (noted in MdqB file -- exhibition?); worn by mannequin n°40 in the Galerie Ethnographique du Musée de l'Artillerie (1877-1917).

Publication History

Christian Feest, Premières Nations, Collections Royales: Les Indiens des forêts et des prairies d'Amérique du Nord (Paris: musée du quai Branly, 2007), 63.

Comment on Source of Exhibition & Publication Data

MdqB file

Sources to Learn More

MOUILLARD Cécile, "La Galerie Ethnographique du Musée d’Artillerie (1877-1917)," Master's Thesis in Art History (Specialty Collections History-Heritage) under the direction of Bartholomew JOBERT, University of Paris IV - Sorbonne, 2005 - 2007.

GKS Reference Number: 26253
How to Cite this Item

Unknown artist, club, ball-headed. Musée du quai Branly, 71.1917.3.10 D. GRASAC item id 26253.

Record Creation Context

Item photographed and described as part of a GRASAC research trip.

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