Materials

wood, paint, string, metal

Techniques or Format

carved from single piece of wood

Motifs and Patterns

Figure of a man at distal end. Circular depressed eyes, triangular nose, C-shaped ears and horizontal elliptical shaped mouth are carved on triangular face. Human head is flattened on the top and back. Hair, eyes, eyebrows and mouth are painted black. Shoulders and arms are carved in low relief on each side of body extending towards globular head formed from a natural knot.

Original and Subsequent Uses

"Carved wooden clubs in two styles are made...these are used in the social dances held from time to time during the winter. Most of these clubs are made by the Potowatomi and native tradition again tells us that it was the Potowatomi who introduced them here." (Johnson, 205).

Other Notes

Rectangular, laterally flattened handle. Head is irregularly rounded and flattened on the striking surface. A circular hole 1.4 cm in diameter is pierced through the handle above the head. Handle forms a circular hand grip at proximal end through which a circular hole 1.2cm in diameter is pierced. Loop of two strands of twisted string is tied through the hole. Circular headed metal nail is inserted beside hold at distal end of handle. Evidence of another nail on each side. Surface is irregularly painted red and black.

Dimensions: 51 × 4.8 × 25.4 cm

Condition: Wood split and repaired with nails, 4 small holes on side of nail, glue from white label on one side of handle, oval piece of wood missing from opposite side of handle, cracks in head (Feb 1984).

Reasons for connecting this relative with particular times, materials, styles and uses

Collected by John Reynolds before 1920.

Current Location: Canadian Museum of History, Ottawa, Canada

Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: III-G-1449

Date of Acquisition by the Institution: 9 November 1981

Date Relative was First Removed or Collected from its Community Context: pre 1920

Collection Narratives and Histories

John Reynolds (1865-1924) lived and was a prominent merchant in Manitowaning, Manitoulin Island, Ontario. He ceased collecting by 1920. After his death tin 1924, the collection went to his daughter. The item was transferred to the CMC in 1981 from the Canadian War Museum. The Reynolds collection consisted primarily of war objects -swords, weapons, uniforms - and went to the War Museum, Ottawa, while aboriginal objects went to CMC.

Sources to Learn More

<br/>Brasser, Ted. "War Clubs." American Indian Tradition, 7.3 (1961): 77-83.
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<br/>Peterson, Harold L. American Indian Tomahawks. Museum of the American Indian, Heye Foundation, 1965.
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<br/>Holmes, William H. "The Tomahawk." American Anthropologist, 10 (1908): 264-276.
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<br/>Johnson, F. "Notes on the Ojibwa and Potawatomi of the Parry Island Reservation, Ont." Indian Notes. 6.3 (July 1929): 193-216.

GKS Reference Number: 27096