Matau (fishhook)

This is a matau (fishhook) from Tahiti in the Society Islands. Fishhooks came in a range of sizes and materials and were made in shell and also wood. This example is made from a piece of turtleshell and features an inturned barbless point. A short length of line made from plant fibre is lashed to one end.

18th century Pacific Voyages

This matau is part of the Lord St Oswald Collection - which contains objects that have a direct connection with the Pacific voyages of 18th century English explorer James Cook. They were acquired by the English collector William Bullock from various sources. Some came from the sale of the Leverian Museum collection in London in 1806. Others were given to him by Sir Joseph Banks a scientist who accompanied Cook to the Pacific. Some items came from other private collectors. Bullock displayed them in his own museum in London.In 1819, Bullock sold his entire collection. The items now in Te Papa were bought by Charles Winn (1795?1874) for his private collection.

Acquisition History

In 1912, after they had been in the Winn family for nearly one hundred years. Charles Winn's grandson, the Second Baron St Oswald, gave them 'to the Dominion of New Zealand'. The gift came as a complete surprise to the Museum's director, Augustus Hamilton. He commented in a letter at the time, 'Goodness knows what the reason was that prompted Lord St Oswald to send them out to New Zealand.'