Ethnography
The ethnographic collections of the Great North Museum: Hancock are among the largest in the north of England. All areas of the world are represented, and often include rare items such as sealskin Parkas and a complete Inuit kayak.
There is a wide range of research opportunities available however the museum would greatly benefit from researchers interested in:
- Asia We have extensive collections from China and India that have not been researched recently.
- Africa Another area where we have a large collection but little specialist knowledge.
The collections are particularly strong in items from the Oceanic Islands, including pieces from New Zealand. Among many treasures in the Oceanic collections are:
- a burial effigy from Malekula
- an 18th Century Rei Puta
- a drum from the Austral Islands
- bark cloth
- a Hawaiian feather cape and helmet
Other areas of strength include African tribal pieces. Among many implements of war and other items are musical instruments, fetishes, and a set of slave irons.
Some of the ethnographic items could be fairly classified as applied art: for instance Japanese swords and armour, Chinese ivories, chopsticks and clothing, and Benin bronzes.
Recent Projects
- Researchers studied our coconut fibre armour from Kirabati as part of a research project exploring this material in museum collections across the country. The project led to the publication of Fighting Fibres. Kirabati Armour and Museum Collections.
- Provided access to Maori musical instruments for a project entitled ‘The origins and development of pre-European contact musical instruments in Aotearoa (New Zealand) and Rēkohu (Chatham Islands).’
