Fijian Ulas
 

Hi all, I just picked this up. It was described to me as an African back-scratcher :D . I think it is a throwing club from Fiji - is it? I do not think it's very old but thought I'd avail myself of the expertise of the forum to confirm my thoughts.

Cheers,

Greg

YOU ARE CORRECT IT IS IN THE FORM OF THE THROWING CLUB FROM FIJI CALLED A ULA. IT APPEARS TO BE WELL MADE AND IF IT HAS THE SIZE AND WEIGHT WOULD MAKE A GOOD THROWING CLUB. I THINK THEY ARE BEING MADE IN SAMOA AND FIJI AND POSSIBLY THE SOLOMON IS. CURRENTLY SO IT IS PROBABLY NOT VERY OLD. BUT IF THE WOOD IS A GOOD HARD HEAVY ONE AND THE CLUB IS NOT TOO LIGHT AND SMALL OR COATED WITH BLACK SHOE POLISH OR SOMETHING THEN IT IS STILL A GOOD WELL MADE COLLECTABLE CLUB. :)

Hi Vandoo, it weighs in at about 1.5 kg. The white triangles are some form of sea shell. I have no idea as to the wood but it has a very tight grain to it. It also has a "ring" to it when tapped. I like it a lot, even if it was made in the last part of the 20th century. I can see where these could become addictive.

Cheers,

Greg

Vandoo

I heard somewhere that the old clubs when made from the root ball of the tree were dug up and the the root ball was tied up with cord and placed back in the ground so when the root ball grew it would compress the growth layers making the ball denser. Have you heard of this technique?


Lew

sabertasche

Here is the only one I have in my club collection. Notice the root ball head and the reddish color of the wood which you only see on the older 19th century clubs.

Lew