Introduction	James Cook and the Exploration of the Pacific Exhibition is the name of an exhibition that includes around 500 items presenting the voyages of Captain Cook and the international team of scientists and artists accompanying him. Their work during the European enlightenment period contributed new insights to a host of disciplines from navigation and astronomy to natural history, philosophy and art.
When and where is the exhibition?	The exhibition is being held in three European locations. The first was at the Art and Exhibition Hall of the Federal Republic of Germany in Bonn, Germany. It ran here from 28 August 2009 to 28 February 2010.
Where else can I see it?	The exhibition will also be held 10 May to 13 September 2010 at the Kunsthistorisches Museum (Museum of Ethnology), Vienna, Austria Click here for more information. 7 October 2010 to 13 February 2011 at the Historisches Museum, Bern, Switzerland
More information?	Click here to visit the Bonn web page for the exhibition Click here for the Vienna information.

Some of the items featured		Breast ornament A breast ornament from the Society Islands. © The Cook/Forster Collection, University of Göttingen This taumi is an almost complete specimen with all the ornamental components present. Only at the upper left side of the neckline are some of the feathers missing which form the wreath around the mother-of-pearl discs mounted there. Note the plant fibre material intertwined with a coconut fibre string, attached at the upper edge of the neckline on both sides to a 2 cm high additional frill made of diagonally plaited light and reddish-brown coconut fibres. The latticework, 12 cm wide, consisting of cane slips (sixteen running lengthwise and eighteen crosswise) and the coconut fibre weave over it, are firmly tied together, as are the tufts of white dog's hair, up to 10 cm long and protruding outward from the lattice work. On the front, three rows of shark's teeth and three strips with pigeon feathers (cut back to a length of 3 cm) are attached to the coconut fibre weave. Two diagonally plaited strips, 2 cm wide, form the inside border of the neckline. The outside strip is plaited from reddish-brown coconut fibre, while the light-brown material of the inside strip cannot be identified as coconut fibre with any certainty. Three mother-of-pearl discs, each with a diameter of 3 cm, are mounted on each of the two upper edges of the collar, as is a wreath of feathers surrounding them.
		Barringtonia speciosa Painted by George Forster at the Society Islands. Named by his father, Johann Forster, after Daines Barrington (lawyer, antiquary, and naturalist). © The Natural History Museum, London Now known as Barringtonia asiatica. In some places it is called the Shaving-brush tree or Fish poison tree. A lofty tree of considerable thickness but bending so its branches bang into the water. Its leaves are large, entire, and obovate. Its flowers are borne in great profusion, and have a very imposing appearance; their petals are uniformly white, the filaments of the anthers pink. The fruit is a large fibrous drupe, containing a four-seeded nut; when bruised and mingled with an appropriate bait, and thrown into the sea, it intoxicates fish, and thus facilitates their capture.
		Feathered image of the war god Kuka'ilimoku © The Cook/Forster Collection, University of Göttingen The base is made from plant materials, while the feathers which are attached to it are basically red. A crest is decorated with yellow feathers, as is the lower part of the neck. A few yellow feathers are also to be found where the ears would be, while the eyebrows consist of black feathers. The mouth of the image is open and fitted with dog teeth. The chin protrudes from directly underneath the mouth, while the neck is long and slightly widened at the base. The eyes are set diagonally with the lower edges pointing toward the middle of the face. They are made of mother-of-pearl with a dark wooden pupil in the centre

Updated: March 2010