Artificial curiosities

The practice of collecting cultural objects from foreign places has been going on for centuries. In the 18th century, items of non-European origin collected specifically to illustrate aspects of exotic cultures, were called "artificial curiosities". To supplement their meagre incomes crews of European vessels, such as the Pandora, were often the agents for gentlemen collectors and scientists in Europe. Among this class of objects are war clubs, fishing implements, tools, such as poi pounders and stone chisels, and Polynesian mourning gowns.

Polynesian war clubs

Five Polynesian war clubs were found on the Pandora during the 1996 expedition. Although the crew was known to have collected artificial curiosities all over Polynesia, these clubs can be attributed to Tonga because of their style and appearance. The intricate surface carving was produced using either a shark's tooth tool, or an iron nail. As they do not appear to have been used in battle, their use was probably ceremonial.

Poi pounder

This artificial curiosity is known as a "poi pounder". It was carved out of one piece of stone and consists of a flared circular base and an upward curved bar. The poi pounder was in common domestic use in Polynesia at the time of the Pandora's visit in 1791. It was used to pound breadfruit, taro and other fruits to a mash known as "poi". This was an important food for the Polynesians. Several poi pounders have been found on the Pandora.