Ulas a weekly sight?
 

Are these that rare? £1021!!!!!
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...=STRK:MEWAX:IT

£560!!!
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Wait a while and i will save pictures for future reference.

The knobly one is the one that went for £1021

Hello, they are not so very rare but highly priced. I have followed both and thought before that they will get a good price. Both have a great patination and a very nice shape.

Best,

Detlef

Highly prized indeed!!! Watch what price bidding gets opened at in a good EU auction house.
I have three good old ones and they are a beautiful feel in the hand and lovely to touch. I'd love more!!!

Gav

Yes they are nice things but I have to say quite common really. I have one, does not have handle decoration. However purchased for less than a 10th of the cheaper example shown i rather like it. I just think the prices are wildly out off the scale.

Yes Tim, there are many, but like all weapons, there are examples and there are examples.

Gav

THERE ARE SEVERAL POSSIBILITES TO EXPLAIN WHY THERE SEEM TO BE MORE OF THE SMALLER ULA THROWING CLUBS.
1. WARRIORS OFTEN CARRIED ONE BIG CLUB AND SEVERAL ULA.(SEE PICTURE AT LEAST THREE)
2. THEY WERE THROWN AND OFTEN LOST BY THE SIDE WHO LOST THE BATTLE AND RAN FOR IT. NO DOUBT THE WINNERS PICKED THEM UP. THE LOSERS MOST LIKELY DID NOT ABANDON THEIR LARGE CLUBS BUT WERE FORCED TO MAKE MORE ULA FOR THE NEXT BATTLE.
3. IN ENCOUNTERS BETWEEN FORIGNERS WITH GUNS IT WOULD BE MUCH THE SAME AND THE SMALLER CLUBS WOULD HAVE BEEN EASY TO PUT IN A SEA CHEST AND TAKE HOME.
4. SO MORE WERE MADE, MORE WERE LOST AND THEY WERE EASIER TO CARRY A FEW HOME. PLUS THEY WERE MORE DANGEROUS TO THOSE WITH GUNS AS THEY WERE SAID TO BE THROWN WITH GREAT FORCE AND ACCURACY.
SOME ARE VERY PRETTY AND AS YOU WILL SEE IN THESE PICTURES MAKE AN ATTRACTIVE DISPLAY A BOQUET OF CLUBS IF YOU WILL. :) THERE WERE A FEW FORMS AND SOME WERE INLAYED WITH MARINE IVORY OR TEETH HUMAN AND OTHERWISE. THERE WERE DIFFERENT SIZES AND SHAPES AND A FORM WITH A CROOKED HANDLE. THE HOLLOW AT THE END OF THE HANDLE MAY HAVE HELD AN IVORY INLAY BUT IF SO MOST ARE MISSING FROM THOSE I HAVE SEEN.

I can make mine look shiny too. Plus picture from "Fijian Artifacts, Tasmanian Museum and art gallery collection" note the one with the plain handle on the far right.

Hello Tim,

These Ula's are also appreciated by ethnographic art lovers.

Last year in Paris I saw a gallery where the Ula's where stored in a large basket with at least 15 pieces. prices around EUR 1100 a piece if I remember well. But may well have been 1600. The sky is the limit.

They are not rare, but obviously sought after by people with money :)

Tim

I'm pretty sure if you keep an eye out you can pick one up on ebay for $300-450. Good hunting my friend. :)

Hi Tim,
A finely carved Tavatava grip will always increase the Ula's price. Sometimes up to 2 or 3 times that of an undecorated one. There are so many people watching these things on ebay (myself included), that it's usually more worthwhile to check the local Antique Shows and Antique Stores for artifacts like these.

Best regards,
Joe

Hi Tim,Cant wait for knobkerries to reach these prices.

Bite your tongue! :eek: ;)

I had a really nice one with a large head and carved handle. Sold it 15 years ago - for £20 :eek: