Artefacts of Encounter : Cook’s Voyages, Colonial Collecting and Museum Histories

The Pacific artefacts and works of art collected during the three voyages of Captain James Cook are of foundational importance for the study of art and culture in Oceania. These collections are representative not only of technologies or belief systems but of indigenous cultures at the formative stages of their modern histories, and exemplify Islanders’ institutions, cosmologies and social relationships. Recently, scholars from the Pacific and further afield, working with Pacific artefacts at the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology (MAA) at University of Cambridge, set out to challenge and rethink some longstanding assumptions on their significance. The Cook voyage collection at the MAA is among the four or five most important in the world, containing over 200 of the 2,000-odd objects with Cook voyage provenance that are dispersed throughout the world. The collection includes some 100 artefacts dating from Cook’s first voyage. This stunning book catalogues this collection, and its cutting-edge scholarship sheds new light on the significance of many artefacts of encounter. The Pacific artefacts and works of art collected during the three voyages of Captain James Cook and the navigators, traders and missionaries who followed him are of foundational importance for the study of art and culture in Oceania. These collections are representative not only of technologies or belief systems but of indigenous cultures at the formative stages of their modern histories, and exemplify Islanders’ institutions, cosmologies and social relationships. Recently, scholars from the Pacific and further afield, working with Pacific artefacts at the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology in Cambridge (MAA), have set out to challenge and rethink some longstanding assumptions on their significance. The Cook voyage collection at the MAA is among the four or five most important in the world, containing over 200 of the 2000-odd objects with Cook voyage provenance that are dispersed throughout the world. The collection includes some 100 artefacts dating from Cook’s first voyage. This stunning book catalogues this collection, and its cutting-edge scholarship sheds new light on the significance of many artefacts of encounter.\ Front Cover 1 Title Page 2 Half Title 4 Copyright 7 Contents 8 Preface and acknowledgements 12 Part I: Encountering Artefacts 16 Introduction Nicholas Thomas & Julie Adams 18 1. ‘Weapons, Utensils and Manufactures of various kinds’: Cambridge’s collections—Nicholas Thomas & Amiria Salmond 30 2. Relating to, and through, Polynesian collections—Billie Lythberg, Maia Nuku & Amiria Salmond 44 3. Artificial curiosities and travelling instruments Simon Schaffer 57 Witness The Photography of Mark Adams 69 Part II: Cook’S First Voyage 74 Introduction 77 A string of iridescent green shells – Artefacts from Tierra del Fuego 79 An early ‘ornamental carving’ 83 Divine archery – A bow, quiver and arrows from Tahiti 89 ‘A breastplate ... for War or Mourning’ – Tahitian feather gorgets 93 ‘Their method of Tattowing I shall now describe’ – Tattoo instruments from Tahiti 97 ‘A smal quantity of cloth’ – Glazed barkcloth from the Austral Islands 99 Ancestral threads – Seven Maori cloaks 103 ‘Bludgeons from New Zeland’ – Maori hand weapons 111 ‘A New Zealand Warrior in his Proper Dress’ – Maori belts 115 ‘Their paddles were curiously stained’ – Two Maori paddles from the East Coast 119 ‘They throw’d two darts at us’ – Spears from Botany Bay 123 The splendid land John Pule 125 Part III: Cook’S Second and Third Voyages, and the Voyage of George Vancouver 128 Introduction 131 A Maori shell trumpet at Cambridge Peter Gathercole, with postcript by Amiria Salmond 135 ‘One threw a dart at us’ – Four artefacts from Niue 147 ‘Long has he used the fue’ – A Tongan fly whisk (fue kafa) 149 ‘The beauties of their own exquisite forms’ – Tongan adornment 151 ‘An aristocrat among Tongan pillows’ – Tongan headrests 155 ‘All Made With Surpriseing Neatness’ – Tongan clubs 157 ‘Such was the prevailing passion for curiosities’ – Cook voyage collections from Melanesia 161 A Nuu-chah-nulth chief’s rattle – A bird rattle from Nootka Sound 165 Wooden armour – An Alutiiq (Chugach) cuirass 167 ‘The quivers were extremely beautifull’ – A reindeer-skin Chukchi quiver 171 Between worlds – A Northwest Coast comb 175 Ceremonial whalebone weapons – A Nuu-chah-nulth club 177 ‘We found them superior to our own’ – Hawaiian fishhooks and early encounters 179 Travelling the world – A wooden figure from the Hawaiian Islands 183 Protective power – A feather helmet from the Hawaiian Islands 185 ‘A fascination for barkcloth’ – The first eighteenth-century barkcloth book 187 Ava`uli, Avanoa and Pekepekaniume Semisi Fetokai Potauaine 191 Part IV: Missionaries and Travellers 194 Introduction 195 Implements of New South Wales – Artefacts from the First Fleet? 197 ‘As much as three men could lift’ – A bale of barkcloth from Tahiti 199 ‘For they say ... he comes down in a whirlwind’ – Four sacred fans from the Austral Islands 203 Fine fancy and delicate taste’ – The Queen of Ra`iatea’s royal robe 208 Instantiating divinity – A spectacular ‘warrior’s cap’ from the Cook Islands 211 Galvanising the gods – A pearlshell and feather mask from Tahiti 215 The potency of Tangaroa – Two whalebone and whale ivory necklaces 219 ‘The God has arrived safely this afternoon’ – A Cook Islands god image 223 From father to son – Three Maori carvings 227 ‘They set to work to furnish them’ – A Quaker traveller’s Rarotongan fan 233 Intricate objects, intricate relationships – A Fijian paddle-shaped club 237 Maru, Kahukura and Hukere – Three named ‘god-sticks’ from New Zealand 239 From chief to chief – The biography of a Fijian breastplate 241 Early artefacts from Australia, New Caledonia and New Zealand 245 ‘A superb feather cloak’ – Kamehameha II’s royal visit to Britain 249 He tautoko Lisa Reihana 253 Epilogue: Exhibiting encounter Nicholas Thomas 260 Perspex patu George Nuku 263 Part V: A Catalogue of the Early Pacific Collections at the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Cambridge 266 Appendix: The Trinity College Inventory 320 Notes 327 Select bibliography 338 Contributors 340 Index 343 The Pacific Artefacts And Works Of Art Collected During The Three Voyages Of Captain James Cook And The Navigators, Traders And Missionaries Who Followed Him Are Of Foundational Importance For The Study Of Art And Culture In Oceania. These Collections Are Representative Not Only Of Technologies Or Belief Systems But Of Indigenous Cultures At The Formative Stages Of Their Modern Histories, And Exemplify Islanders' Institutions, Cosmologies And Social Relationships. Recently, Scholars From The Pacific And Further Afield, Working With Pacific Artefacts At The Museum Of Archaeology And Anthropology In Cambridge (maa), Have Set Out To Challenge And Rethink Some Longstanding Assumptions On Their Significance. The Cook Voyage Collection At The Maa Is Among The Four Or Five Most Important In The World, Containing Over 200 Of The 2000-odd Objects With Cook Voyage Provenance That Are Dispersed Throughout The World. The Collection Includes Some 100 Artefacts Dating From Cook's First Voyage. This Stunning Book Catalogues This Collection, And Its Cutting-edge Scholarship Sheds New Light On The Significance Of Many Artefacts Of Encounter. Pt.1. Encountering Artefacts: Introduction / Nicholas Thomas & Julie Adams -- 'weapons, Utensils And Manufactures Of Various Kinds': Cambridge Collections / Nicholas Thomas & Amiria Salmond -- Relating To, And Through, Polynesian Collections / Billie Lythberg, Maia Nuku & Amiria Salmond -- Artificial Curiosities And Travelling Instruments / Simon Schaffer -- Witness: The Photography Of Mark Adams. Pt.2. Cook's First Voyage: A String Of Iridescent Green Shells - Artefacts From Tierra Del Fuego -- An Early 'ornamental Carving' -- Divine Archery - A Bow, Quiver And Arrows From Tahiti -- 'a Breastplate ... For War Or Mourning' - Tahitian Feather Gorgets -- 'their Method Of Tattowing I Shall Now Describe' - Tattoo Instruments From Tahiti -- 'a Smal Quantity Of Cloth' - Glazed Barkcloth From The Austral Islands -- Ancestral Threads - Seven Māori Cloaks -- 'bludgeons From New Zealand' - Māori Hand Weapons -- 'a New Zealand Warrior In His Proper Dress' - Māori Belts -- 'their Paddles Were Curiously Stained' - Two Māori Paddles From The East Coast -- 'they Throw'd Two Darts At Us' - Spears From Botany Bay -- The Splendid Land / John Pule. Pt.3. Cook's Second And Third Voyages, And The Voyage Of George Vancouver: Introduction -- A Māori Shell Trumpet At Cambridge / Peter Gathercole, With Postscript By Amiria Salmond -- 'one Threw A Dart At Us' - Four Artefacts From Niue --'long Has He Used The Fue' - A Tongan Fly Whisk (fue Kafa) --'the Beauties Of Their Own Exquisite Forms' - Tongan Adornment -- 'an Aristocrat Among Tongan Pillows' - Tongan Headrests -- 'all Made With Surpriseing Neatness' - Tongan Clubs --'such Was The Prevailing Passion For Curiosities' - Cook Voyage Collections From Melanesia -- A Nuu-chah-hulth Chief's Rattle - A Bird Rattle From Nootka Sound --wooden Armour - An Alutiiq (chugach) Cuirass -- 'the Quivers Were Extremely Beautiful' - A Reindeer-skin Chukchi Quiver -- Between Worlds - A Northwest Coast Comb --ceremonia Whalebone Weapons - A Nuu-chah-nulth Club -- 'we Found Them Superior To Our Own' - Hawaiian Fishhooks And Early Encounters -- Travelling The World - A Wooden Figure From The Hawaiian Islands -- Protextive Poser - A Feather Helmet From The Hawaiian Islands -- 'a Fascination For Barkcloth' - The First Eighteenth-century Barkcloth Book -- Ava'uli, Avonoa And Pekepekaniume / Semisi Fetokai Potuaine. Pt.4. Missionaries And Travellers: Introduction -- Implements Of New South Wales - Artefacts From The First Fleet? -- 'as Much As Three Men Could Lift' - A Bale Of Barkcloth From Tahiti -- 'for They Say ... He Comes Down In A Whirlwind' - Four Sacred Fans From The Austral Islands -- 'fine Fancy And Delicate Taste' - The Queen Of Ra'iatea's Royal Robe -- Instantiating Divinity - A Spectacular 'warrior's Cap' From The Cook Islands -- Galvanising The Gods - A Pearlshell And Feather Mask From Tahiti -- The Potency Of Tangaroa - Two Whalebone And Whale Ivory Necklaces -- 'the God Has Arrived Safely This Afternoon' - A Cook Islands God Image -- From Father To Son - Three Māori Carvings --'they Set To Work To Furnish Them' - A Quaker Traveller's Rarotongan Fan -- Intricate Objects, Intricate Relationships - A Fijian Paddle-shaped Blub --maru, Kahukura And Hukere - Three Named 'god-sticks' From New Zealand -- From Chief To Chief - The Biography Of A Fijian Breastplate -- Early Artefacts From Australia, New Caledonia And New Zealand -- 'a Superb Feather Cloak' - Kamehameha Ii's Royal Visit To Britain -- He Tautoko / Lisa Reihana -- Epilogue: Exhibiting Encounter / Nicholas Thomas -- Perspex Patu / George Nuku. Pt.5. A Catalogue Of The Early Pacific Collections At The Museum Of Archaeology And Anthropology, Cambridge -- Appendix: The Trinity College Inventory. Edited By Nicholas Thomas, Julie Adams, Billie Lythberg, Maia Nuku & Amiria Salmond ; Photography By Gwil Owen. Includes Bibliographical References.