Apa 'apai

A small, plain Tongan apa 'apai (club) with a cylindrical handle and four sided head. Made of toa wood (casuarina equisetifolia or she-oak). Although simple this is a particularly beautiful example of typical Tongan carving, with its gentle curve and highly polished finish.

This club 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.

Object Details

ID: AAA2829
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: 52 x 940 x 100 mm
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