Piece of mahogany with brass end

A piece of broke square-edged mahogany with a brass tip from the 1845 Northwest Passage Expedition led by Sir John Franklin. This piece closely matches the shape with the ferrule end for a tripod stand for something like theodolite or surveyor's transit.

The piece of mahogany was recovered by the US expedition under Lieutenant Frederick Schwatka between 1878-1880. It is not specifically described in the 1881 catalogue of items that he sent back to Britain in 1881. However there are entries for 'Item No. 41-44. Native tools made from material from the wrecked ships, obtained from Eskimos on Hayes River' and also 'Items No. 45-48. Native tools obtained from Netchillik Eskimo on Adelaide Peninsula'. [TNA, ADM 1/6600].

Schwatka's expedition possibly found this in the possession of Inuit camped west of Stewart's Monument, Hayes River around 15-17 May 1879. Gilder records 'We obtained from them a few trifling relics of the Erebus and Terror, in exchange for knives and needles.' [Gilder, pages 77-78]. Klutschak also stated 'things made of iron copper and wood...' [Klutschak, page 64].

The (2) painted in white on the piece of wood was displayed at the Royal Naval Museum, Greenwich, with the original description of 'Case 6, No. 2. Pieces of metal and wood from Hayes River'. The objects in Case 6 were amalgamated into one entry in the published version: 'Case 6. Native tools &c., obtained from the Ookosiksillik Esquimaux at Hayes River, and made of parts belonging to H.M. Ships "Erebus" and "Terror".'

Object Details

ID: AAA2338
Collection: Polar Equipment and Relics
Type: Dowel
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Unknown
Events: Arctic Exploration: Franklin's Last Expedition, 1845-1848; Arctic Exploration: Franklin Search Expedition, Schwatka, 1878-1880
Date made: Circa 1845
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London.
Measurements: Overall: 10 x 173 x 10 mm
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