Apa 'apai
A small, plain Tongan apa 'apai (club). It has a cylindrical handle with a knob on the end and four sided head, a single carved ridge between the two. Made of toa wood (casuarina equisetifolia or she-oak). This was collected by James Cook on his second voyage and is typical of clubs collected on that voyage, as it would have been carved with stone tools. Trade in iron tools with the Tongan's during the voyage encouraged development of more elaborate carvings which are evident on clubs collected on the third voyage. Also known as a coconut leafstalk war club Apa Apai.
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Object Details
ID: | AAA2841 |
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Collection: | World Cultures |
Type: | Apa 'apai |
Display location: | Display - Pacific Encounters Gallery |
Events: | Exploration: Cook's Second Voyage, 1772 |
Date made: | Before 1773 |
People: | Cook, James; Malcolm, Neil |
Credit: | National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London |
Measurements: | Overall: 905 x 60 x 55 x 70 mm |