NEW CLUB, I REFER TO AS THE GIANT PECKER
 

SORRY I COULD NOT RESIST :D THIS CLUB IS SAID TO COME FROM AFRICA AND UNDOUBTEDLY REPRESENTS A HORN BILL BIRD. IT IS VERY LARGE BUT MANAGEABLE WITH A TWO HANDED GRIP, IT WOULD NOT SERVE AS A WEAPON UNLESS THE OPPONENT WAS LAYING ON THE GROUND. IT WOULD DELIVER A GOOD PECKING BLOW TO SUCH A TARGET BUT I BELIEVE IT TO BE PURELY CEREMONIAL. IT SHOWS QUITE A LOT OF AGE AND WEAR INDICATING A LONG PERIOD OF USE IN THE PAST. IT IS 22 IN. TALL 22.5 IN. WIDE AND THE HANDLE IS 29 INCHES LONG. MADE OF A HARD WOOD THAT IS NOT TOO HEAVY.
THE OTHER POSSIBILITY WOULD BE NEW GUINEA OR THE ISLANDS AROUND IT. I HAVE NOT SEEN ANOTHER PECKER LIKE IT. :p

Hello Barry,

it is surely from Oceania; I am very sure! Not because I know it but by a small detail I see on the second picture. There I see remains of pupation of an insect I know very well, I have seen this by many items already. I will look for and will post a close up from this. Hope this will be from help.

Regards,
Detlef

Very interesting piece - I like it. Must be from New Caledonia, I think.

Here the close up from the back of one from my Halmahera shields (salawaku). Like you know is Halmahera biological already Australian, means that you can find there animals you can find also in New Guinea.

I think Barry is right Africa Senufo.

YOU ARE RIGHT SAJEN :) IT IS THE REMAINS OF A PUPA LIKE THE ONE YOU SHOW, GOOD EYE I HAD NOT NOTICED IT. I READ AN ARTICLE ON THE USE OF VARIOUS INSECT PUPA AND OTHER TRACES BEING USED TO IDENTIFY THE REGION ARTIFACTS CAME FROM. THEY SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED THIS BEING USED FOR IDENTIFICATION AND AGE DETERMINATION ON ITEMS FROM NEW GUINEA AND THE REGION AROUND IT.
MENTION WAS ALSO MADE OF LOCALS ARTIFICIALLY AGEING OBJECTS BY BURYING THEM IN THE GROUND AND THEN HANGING THEM IN A SHED OR STORAGE BUILDING FOR A SEASON OR SO TO LET THESE BUGS LEAVE THEIR TRACES.
SO IT IS LIKELY THIS IS OCEANIC AND FROM THE REGION AROUND NEW GUINEA UNLESS A SIMILAR INSECT PUPA IS FOUND IN AFRICA?. IT DOES REMIND ME OF THE PIG KILLING CLUBS AND THE FIGHTING PICKS FOUND IN THE REGION.
HERE ARE SOME PICTURES OF SEVERAL PIG KILLING CLUBS AND ONE FIGHTING PICK. THE PIG KILLING CLUBS ARE MOSTLY FROM VANAUTU AND THE FIRST TWO PICTURES MEASURES 39CM. HEAD X 42 CM. HANDLE. THE 3RD. PICTURE IS 24 INCHES LONG AND THE FIGHTING PICK IS 22 INCHES LONG.
PERHAPS IT REPRESENTS THE CASSOWARY INSTEAD OF THE HORNBILL?

Hello Barry,

I think it is a dance wand, look for example this one, taken from "Oceanic Art", Anthony JP Meyer, page 260. This one is from the Chambri sea, Itamul, Middle Sepik.

BTW, this book is a great reference work for Oceanic art.

Regards,
Detlef

Here is an other one: http://tribalcollective.com/old-kwom...f684/#more-125

THESE EXAMPLES WOULD SEEM TO CONFIRM ITS ORIGINS AND WHAT IT WAS USED FOR. THANKS THE GREAT PECKER MYSTERY IS SOLVED :D

Hello Barry,

glad that I could help to solve the mystery! :D I was sure already by the first look that I have seen similar ones but wasn't sure where and from where these dance wands from.

Regards,
Detlef