[Tim Simmons]

New ebay purchase, the only bidder, good or bad? Went for at as it was not offered at a fortune making price so common these days. Listed as an early 1800s South Sea Club by a militaria dealer. Not wanting to tar them all with the same brush but not usually the best when it comes to ethno stuff sure you know what I mean. However I am happy to believe the dealer may well be correct about South Seas. In my limited handling of clubs I do not see it as African. I suspect it one of the myriad of club forms from Vanuatu of which some are really good and other like this so,so. Saying that it does handle very nicely. The main reason for posting here is how it is made. I hummed and hawed for days other the photos curious as to why it looked part turned and part hand carved. Seeing that some circular elements were quite off circular I went for it. On receiving it is clear that the club has indeed been part turned. This was a surprise as I thought wood turning was not a practise in Oceania. On googling pre colonial wood turning in the south seas it turns out that wood was turned by some peoples. A bow can be used as turning motion. I suspect the irregular circular turning on my club may be from a lack of a stable tool rest. I think it is clear that a metal tool has been used on the club. The two holes are from boring insect, catch the right position and you can just look through and see that the insect has eaten a curved tunnel. Just the head and tail stock {our words} impressions were very interesting. 60cm long.