metal weapons and tools in the pacific

Tim Simmons · 18th September 2008, 08:56 PM

This book is well worth getting { Pacific Encounters, art & divinity in Polynesia 1760-1860, available from amazon pbk} as it mentions the use of metal from the very first European and whaler visits to Polynesia. Mention is made that many of the finest pieces of sculpture collected by these early voyages were carved with metal trade tools. There are weapons in this book but all made of wood as the focus is on the earliest period. Other publications do highlight the observances of the use of the forge in Polynesia and further afield. Cpt Cook had to issuse an order of no iron trade because ships nails were in great demand. In the coming years the Islanders were able to demand what trade items they wanted. I see no reason to not believe that between visits the necessity to forge metal did not arise especially as these ports of call were so important for resupply and repairs? It is most curious that publications on the arts of Polynesia do not include metalwork. I might suggest this is because it is not what the buying public expect. Compared to the standard ideas of discovering Polynesia with its wonderful sculpture, and following colonisation, metalwork is too advanced and a little dull.

Tim Simmons · 22nd September 2008, 08:36 PM

This is cool.
http://www.heretical.com/cannibal/polynesi.html

If you look closely at the knife I have in the link you can see that it is fashioned largely by grinding into shape from a European blade. The grinding has been done with hand held stones rather than a rotating grind stone. Some heat must have been applied to create the roll at the tip but you would not need a great force of heat to do that. Also it is worth noting that the ferrel part is just bent into shape. As in the post the knife was originally shown I believe this is an extemely unusual item. The recent posts on this topic inspired me to purchase from Amazon the book {Exploration & Exchange, a south seas anthology 1680-1900, the university of Chicago press} which did force me to give the early missionaries just a little amount of respect. It cannot have been much fun having human body parts tossed into your compound even if your impossition was unwelcome.

Tim Simmons · 25th September 2008, 07:29 PM

This is quite interesting?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...ethodists.html

18th September 2008, 08:56 PM	#1
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,842	This book is well worth getting { Pacific Encounters, art & divinity in Polynesia 1760-1860, available from amazon pbk} as it mentions the use of metal from the very first European and whaler visits to Polynesia. Mention is made that many of the finest pieces of sculpture collected by these early voyages were carved with metal trade tools. There are weapons in this book but all made of wood as the focus is on the earliest period. Other publications do highlight the observances of the use of the forge in Polynesia and further afield. Cpt Cook had to issuse an order of no iron trade because ships nails were in great demand. In the coming years the Islanders were able to demand what trade items they wanted. I see no reason to not believe that between visits the necessity to forge metal did not arise especially as these ports of call were so important for resupply and repairs? It is most curious that publications on the arts of Polynesia do not include metalwork. I might suggest this is because it is not what the buying public expect. Compared to the standard ideas of discovering Polynesia with its wonderful sculpture, and following colonisation, metalwork is too advanced and a little dull. Last edited by Tim Simmons; 18th September 2008 at 09:54 PM. Reason: spelling,spelling spelling spelling

22nd September 2008, 08:36 PM	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,842	Spelling!!! This is cool. http://www.heretical.com/cannibal/polynesi.html If you look closely at the knife I have in the link you can see that it is fashioned largely by grinding into shape from a European blade. The grinding has been done with hand held stones rather than a rotating grind stone. Some heat must have been applied to create the roll at the tip but you would not need a great force of heat to do that. Also it is worth noting that the ferrel part is just bent into shape. As in the post the knife was originally shown I believe this is an extemely unusual item. The recent posts on this topic inspired me to purchase from Amazon the book {Exploration & Exchange, a south seas anthology 1680-1900, the university of Chicago press} which did force me to give the early missionaries just a little amount of respect. It cannot have been much fun having human body parts tossed into your compound even if your impossition was unwelcome. Last edited by Tim Simmons; 22nd September 2008 at 08:48 PM. Reason: spelling!!

25th September 2008, 07:29 PM	#3
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,842	This is quite interesting? http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...ethodists.html