British Empire & Commonwealth (1488.TET)

4 arrows. Bamboo shaft. Offset barbed head. Possibly East Africa. Tied with vegetable fibre.

British Empire & Commonwealth (1997/077/110)

Sarawak blow pipe, tapered pole with a narrow hole bored through the whole length – Baram River, Kayan People.

British Empire & Commonwealth (2000/040/006)

Fijian woven palm leaf cloth/mat. Made from rattan

British Empire & Commonwealth (2001/050/385.still)

postcard - 140 x 90mmSepia photograph of the East Africa Pavilion at the British Empire Exhibition, 1924.Image depicts the building with two square towers and a flying flag. Two passenger trolleys are travelling infront of the building carrying visitors to the exhibition.Printed and published by the Sole ConcessionariesHeelway Press Ltd, 3-9 Dane St, Holborn

British Empire & Commonwealth (1510.tet)

Beaded wooden/ ivory stick. Covered in red and white beads in a zigzag pattern. Etched square design. 'Pasteur 2009-030'. Ivory segments. Two areas of damaged beadwork.

British Empire & Commonwealth (A/TONG/44)

Four panels of a presentation tapa cloth. Outer panel numbers 1-4. Bird deign in each panel and patterns including the arms of Tonga. The edges have been sealed with masking tape. Holes through the edge where it has been nailed or hung for display. Communal efforts at making Tapa cloth – made for weddings or important people.

British Empire & Commonwealth (2004/031/007)

Oil painting. The painting is a head and shoulders portrait of an Indian Subedar Major (a Mahrrata), Royal Bombay Sappers and Miners. Yellow background. One of 15 portraits of Indian staff and colleagues painted by Fitzgerald, 4 are in the BEC collection. Dorothy Fitzgerald was wife of Colonel Fitzgerald Smith of the Indian Army. Lacking proper supplies, Col Fitzgerald Smith used his old kit bag and deckchairs to supply the canvas, on stretchers made by his carpentry staff.

British Empire & Commonwealth (2004/031/002), Ragoo, a Brahman

Oil painting. Portrait depicts a printer in the drawing office at the School of Military Engineering. The artist emphasised his ascetic features when she learned he was a Brahmin priest. She asked him to wear his priestly robes: the string around his neck can be seen in the painting. Dorothy Fitzgerald was wife of Colonel Fitzgerald Smith of the Indian Army. One of 15 portraits of Indian staff and colleagues painted by Fitzgerald, 8 are in the BEC collection. Lacking proper supplies, Col Fitzgerald Smith used his old kit bag and deckchairs to supply the canvas, on stretchers made by his carpentry staff. Signed bottom right.

British Empire & Commonwealth (2004/031/001), Lance Naik

Oil painting. Portrait, head and shoulders of a Lance Naik (Lance Corporal), name unknown, a Sikh in the Bombay Sappers and Miners. Medal ribbon includes the Frontier Medal and the Burma Star. Dorothy Fitzgerald was wife of Colonel Fitzgerald Smith of the Indian Army. One of 15 portraits of Indian staff and colleagues painted by Fitzgerald, 8 are in the BEC collection. Lacking proper supplies, Col Fitzgerald Smith used his old kit bag and deckchairs to supply the canvas, on stretchers made by his carpentry staff Signed bottom right.

British Empire & Commonwealth (2004/031/004), Mrs Lokaranjan

Oil painting. Portrait, head and shoulders of the new bride of one of the King's commissioned officers on the Long Engineering Course run by Col Fitzgerald Smith. She wears a white sari with red edging, and a string of pearls or white beads. One of 15 portraits of Indian staff and colleagues painted by Fitzgerald, 8 are in the BEC collection. Dorothy Fitzgerald was wife of Colonel Fitzgerald Smith of the Indian Army. Lacking proper supplies, Col Fitzgerald Smith used his old kit bag and deckchairs to supply the canvas, on stretchers made by his carpentry staff. Signed bottom left.

British Empire & Commonwealth (2008/024/025a-c)

Indian Cavalry Officer's khulla and lungi. 2008/024/025a - Length of gold coloured cotton fabric. One end has a wide border of horizontal woven stripes of varying widths in navy, cream and gold thread. This edge has a short knotted fringe of self threads and some gold (bullion). b) Smaller length of fine cotton (Lungi), warp in brown. Stripes in black, white, and gold thread of varying patterns and widths. Fringed end on the cotton strip which has gold thread cut into it. Cut from longer piece. Machine sown across top. c) Small rounded cap, gold thread on top part, red cotton drill at bottom with horizontal and vertical ribbing, lined with black leatherette around edge and maroon purple brocade inside.

British Empire & Commonwealth (T/AFRI/152)

Spear, wood shaft, cracked and bound with cello tape in the centre, socketed iron blade which is bound with hide thong. The butt end bulges out then tapers with a small iron socket.

British Empire & Commonwealth (T/AFRI/156)

Spear, wood shaft, elongated metal blade, long socket which may have been wrapped with fibre.

British Empire & Commonwealth (T/AFRI/157)

Spear, wood shaft, socketed shaft with a long thin blade. Some wire work.

British Empire & Commonwealth (T/AFRI/161)

Spear, wood pole, metal tang set into shaft and bound with leather or hide thong. Narrow leaf shaped blade.

British Empire & Commonwealth (T/AFRI/164)

Spear made from iron, long metal shaft with cut rings, leaf-shaped arrow head with broad mid-rib, butt end is beaten out to an axe shape and surface covered with decorative lines and zigzags.

British Empire & Commonwealth (T/AFRI/165)

Spear, wood centre, elongated metal spike, flat blade, long butt, short hand grip. East Africa?

British Empire & Commonwealth (T/AFRI/166)

Club, wood pole, elongated metal fork on side, wire binding

British Empire & Commonwealth (T/AFRI/167)

Spear, light wood shaft with very long socketed spike. Square section and tapering to a point.

British Empire & Commonwealth (T/AFRI/179)

Spear, bamboo shaft, wide metal blade (blade missing), plain, butt end bound with iron strip.

British Empire & Commonwealth (T/AFRI/181)

Spear, round wooden shaft, socketed iron blade with long, thin blade. The two parts are loose and may separate. Probably East Africa.

British Empire & Commonwealth (T/AFRI/185)

Spear, wood shaft, 1 end with elongated metal rod with blade, 1 end with elongated metal spike. Socketed point and butt in iron. Possibly 1930s. East Africa?

British Empire & Commonwealth (T/AFRI/186)

Spear, wood shaft, 1 end with elongated metal rod with blade, 1 end with elongated metal spike. Kenya? 1930s.

British Empire & Commonwealth (T/AFRI/187)

Spear, wood shaft, 1 end with elongated metal rod and blade, 1 end with elongated metal spike. Maybe 1930s, East Africa.

British Empire & Commonwealth (T/AFRI/190)

Spear, wood with various animal hide and crocodile skin binding, 1 end with metal blade, an elaborately shaped point with a very thick square midrib. Plaited binding in hide.

British Empire & Commonwealth (T/AFRI/191)

Spear, possibly Kenya? Maasai spear, wood, the shaft bound with various animal hides stitched in place but hair mostly lost. A blade with no tang fixed in one end. Metal spatula shaped at butt end.

British Empire & Commonwealth (T/AFRI/194)

Iron spear head, socketed with two barbs and a twisted tang. Top of shaft is bound with coils of metal wire, butt bound with coil of iron wire. Shaft is cracked and damaged. Label on blade ‘Beastall’s Ltd Depositories Tunbridge Wells, No 27 Clifford.’

British Empire & Commonwealth (T/CANA/140)

Canoe paddle. Made of stripes of wood butted and shaped. Maker’s label: ‘Moise Cadorette Inc. St.Jean Des Piles. Que. Fabrication Syndicale Union Made'.

British Empire & Commonwealth (T/IMAN/38)

Replica Manx sword, large and broad, the sword of state, metal, wood, design on knob and hilt. Carried before the Queen at Tynwald ceremony

British Empire & Commonwealth (T/INDI/102)

Wooden dove table.

British Empire & Commonwealth (T/INDI/103)

Door, wood with brass overlay and studs, incised design, four panels, carved frame, 2 bits similar to lintel? 4 additional pieces which could also be part of door but unsure - these consist of 2 brackets, 1 lintel, capital? 2820mm (h) x 670mm (w).

British Empire & Commonwealth (T/INDI/138)

Canopy, 13 pieces – 8 pieces for upright, 4 cross pieces. Wooden framework is of heavy wood turned and lacquered in red and gold. Upright poles in two parts screwing together at middle. 4 horizontal poles which fit into holes at the top of the upright.

British Empire & Commonwealth (T/KENY/251)

Spear, socketed iron blade with a twist in the middle and a small leaf-shaped blade. Socketed butt with long iron length worked to a point at the end. An old label reads – ‘Commonwealth Institute. Maasai spear. Kenya/Tanzania'.

British Empire & Commonwealth (T/MALY/397)

Blow pipe with a hollowed out shaft, with a blade attached with rattan binding at one end and a small metal hook. Ibam people. Purchased in 1961 from Sarwak museum.

British Empire & Commonwealth (T/NEWZ/49)

Carving of Captain Cook, depicted as Maori god, wood, 3 figures, central figure bound with string, 2 faces, abalone eyes. Stand with two small figures which stand either side are missing.

British Empire & Commonwealth (T/NIGE/799)

Smoking pipe with a hollow wooden tube, fitted into a brass pipe. Leather thonging holding a hide strap for carrying. The mouthpiece end is bound with coiled iron wire.

British Empire & Commonwealth (T/PACI/107)

Spear, heavy wood with a short taper at one end, and a long taper at the other.

British Empire & Commonwealth (T/PAPU/38)

Large food hook male figure. Large wood carving based on a food hook (to keep food away from vermin). Standing on wooden hook. Scarification on chest, upper arms and thighs. Typical curved head, chin and nose connected, large disc-like eyes inset with operculo shells. Wearing a fibre apron. Middle Sepik, ?Iatmul people

British Empire & Commonwealth (T/PAPU/43)

Wooden spear which is ornately shaped and carved, with a tapered end, splayed hand grip and a carved face. Spearhead carved in wood with teeth motif and a face. Decorated with red and natural fibre fringing. The handle and spearhead are either laid in two parts or is broken, bound together with finger knitted fibre string with remains of feathers in the binding. Carved both sides with a different pattern on the back of the faces. Remains of lime infill in some of the carving. Fibre fringing is very fragile. 'Ceremonial Spear, E. Sepik province’ on a label.

British Empire & Commonwealth (T/PAPU/44)

2 bows made from palm wood. One has a bamboo string tied at each end of the bow with fibre binding at each end. The other is a long polished bow with a string, presumably made of vegetable fibre, bound in vegetable fibre which may include yellow orchid root. Bow string is damaged and loosed. Old number ‘AUS G9’ written on it. Use for fighting and hunting.