Poke in the eye?

Tim Simmons · 28th January 2011, 10:16 PM

With a burnt stick? Stuck my head above the parapet once again. Melanesian club 92cm long. The pictures were overly large and rather poor. I have tried to put them in to a more readable order, which will have to do untill I have it. The only reference I have are illustrations from {Felix Speiser, Ethnology of Vanuatu, University of Hawai} I am hoping for something between no. 5, 96cm long and no. 4, 95cm long. There is no mention of lime in the clubs of Vanuatu. Looks as if there was some sort of binding on parts of the item.

Tim Simmons · 1st February 2011, 09:40 PM

I like this, lucky for me I like this sort of thing. There is no lime on this piece, what looks white is light reflecting of old shiny black resinous substance which could be gum or Atuna nut putty. Traces can be found further from the handle. I do not have the camara ability to show more about this so I include a quick sketch. It seems to be a sword stick, a wooden epee. There is a very subtle grip area which I think you can just about see in the handle close up, best felt in the hand. Melanesian Islands or Australian? like the cover of the British Museum book. Shown with the Nuie club as some sort of guide.

Tim Simmons · 3rd February 2011, 10:14 PM

For those interested. After further examination I am not sure the lines are from a fibre/cordage binding. Under magnification now I am over the hill. I think the lines are whats left of a very carefull hand scoring/cutting in roughly parallel lines. Not a cord wrap.

Tim Simmons · 5th February 2011, 11:50 PM

Then again it could be a weavers sword. That might explain the markings. Well if you do not take a chance you will always pay top prices.

Still nice to handle. Picture of Indonesian weaving swords from the net and from "African Textiles, John Picton & John Mack, British Museum Press" Learning all the time.

VANDOO · 7th February 2011, 12:21 AM

SOMETIMES ITS DIFFICULT TO BE SURE WHAT IS A CLUB AND WHAT IS A TOOL OR UTENSIL. IF THE ITEM HAS GOOD WEIGHT AND BALANCE ITS LIKELY A CLUB. I WOULD SUSPECT LIGHTER AND SOFTER WOOD WOULD BE USED FOR STICKS IN A LOOM. UNLESS IT BELONGED TO THE DEADLY LOOM WEAVERS NINJA SOCIETY.

FROM THE PICTURES AND SIZE I WOULD SAY ITS A WAR CLUB.

Tim Simmons · 7th February 2011, 10:30 AM

Thanks for the encouragement Barry.

It is indeed hard and heavy enough to be a weapon. Having dabbled with sword play untill the touch of arthritis in my left foot made me turn my back. I would be happy to use it against an opponent armed in a similar manner, like the chap on the book cover. However the marks do make me question this. I imagine a weaver might insert the sword/beater in the same place all the time so that parralel line marks could be worn into the surface. They are light and do not appear to have been cut.

28th January 2011, 10:16 PM	#1
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	Poke in the eye? With a burnt stick? Stuck my head above the parapet once again. Melanesian club 92cm long. The pictures were overly large and rather poor. I have tried to put them in to a more readable order, which will have to do untill I have it. The only reference I have are illustrations from {Felix Speiser, Ethnology of Vanuatu, University of Hawai} I am hoping for something between no. 5, 96cm long and no. 4, 95cm long. There is no mention of lime in the clubs of Vanuatu. Looks as if there was some sort of binding on parts of the item. Attached Images

1st February 2011, 09:40 PM	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	Wood sword I like this, lucky for me I like this sort of thing. There is no lime on this piece, what looks white is light reflecting of old shiny black resinous substance which could be gum or Atuna nut putty. Traces can be found further from the handle. I do not have the camara ability to show more about this so I include a quick sketch. It seems to be a sword stick, a wooden epee. There is a very subtle grip area which I think you can just about see in the handle close up, best felt in the hand. Melanesian Islands or Australian? like the cover of the British Museum book. Shown with the Nuie club as some sort of guide. Attached Images

5th February 2011, 11:50 PM	#4
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	Then again it could be a weavers sword. That might explain the markings. Well if you do not take a chance you will always pay top prices. Still nice to handle. Picture of Indonesian weaving swords from the net and from "African Textiles, John Picton & John Mack, British Museum Press" Learning all the time. Attached Images

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3rd February 2011, 10:14 PM	#3
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	For those interested. After further examination I am not sure the lines are from a fibre/cordage binding. Under magnification now I am over the hill. I think the lines are whats left of a very carefull hand scoring/cutting in roughly parallel lines. Not a cord wrap.

7th February 2011, 12:21 AM	#5
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	SOMETIMES ITS DIFFICULT TO BE SURE WHAT IS A CLUB AND WHAT IS A TOOL OR UTENSIL. IF THE ITEM HAS GOOD WEIGHT AND BALANCE ITS LIKELY A CLUB. I WOULD SUSPECT LIGHTER AND SOFTER WOOD WOULD BE USED FOR STICKS IN A LOOM. UNLESS IT BELONGED TO THE DEADLY LOOM WEAVERS NINJA SOCIETY. FROM THE PICTURES AND SIZE I WOULD SAY ITS A WAR CLUB.

7th February 2011, 10:30 AM	#6
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	Thanks for the encouragement Barry. It is indeed hard and heavy enough to be a weapon. Having dabbled with sword play untill the touch of arthritis in my left foot made me turn my back. I would be happy to use it against an opponent armed in a similar manner, like the chap on the book cover. However the marks do make me question this. I imagine a weaver might insert the sword/beater in the same place all the time so that parralel line marks could be worn into the surface. They are light and do not appear to have been cut.