Club Trivia. Have a guess!

RSWORD · 26th May 2018, 11:13 PM

Someone, Colin I think, stated he wished there were more posts on clubs. I agree! I thought it would be fun to post a couple of unusual examples from time to time and let everyone have a guess. In some cases, I found a reference that I think ID’s it and in some cases I haven’t a clue.

Here is the first example. Quite long at 39” when measured in a straight line. This one I think I have found an ID but let’s see who can get it right!

Tim Simmons · 27th May 2018, 08:30 AM

The shape is a bit like a club I had fròm Nuie Island and also a club from Vanuatu, but the handle end is a bit odd for those lands. I might just gamble that it is European? Some sword clubs like this have been shown here from Greece.

I have done a little more research and I might decide to change my mind and think this is South American as well.

kronckew · 27th May 2018, 09:02 PM

It'd be easier if the whole club were in a photo...

RSWORD · 28th May 2018, 02:29 PM

Thanks for the feedback so far and yes my photography skills leave a bit to be desired.

Tim,

When I first seen this club it was listed as Native American but I thought initially it might be Nuie Island as well but a few months later I was flipping through a reference book and think I have found a match. Will post this soon.

CharlesS · 31st May 2018, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RSWORD

Thanks for the feedback so far and yes my photography skills leave a bit to be desired.

RSWORD · 28th May 2018, 10:06 PM

Hopefully I was able to capture the entire club in this picture.

RSWORD · 28th May 2018, 10:09 PM

In Partingtons book I found a very similar example listed as Australian. The handle end in the line drawing has the same shape and the curvature is the same. Based on this line drawing my vote is for Australian. Look at number 3.

Timo Nieminen · 28th May 2018, 10:54 PM

While the profile is similar to the Australian club in the drawing, the 3D shape doesn't look very Australian to me.

From the caption in Partington, club #3 looks like a boomerang-club to me, a flattened club that can be thrown as a boomerang (non-returning, of course). These are often called "lil-lil", and that should find some examples when used as a search term.

One from the British Museum: http://www.britishmuseum.org/researc...13469&partId=1 (photos attached).

There are Australian sword-clubs with long round handles, but the caption "used as swords and as missiles" suggests to me it isn't one of these. One example of a long-handled sword-club: https://australianmuseum.net.au/image/e076955-club

Tim Simmons · 29th May 2018, 08:01 AM

I tend to agree not Australia. I wonder if it is some kind of throwing device.? The groove used as a track to launch a projectile of some form.

Perhaps it is a native American hunting stick? Maybe from arrid or desert regions?

Tim Simmons · 29th May 2018, 08:52 AM

It looks similar to a carp fishing bait throwing stick. Perhaps a rabbit or bird hunting stick that throws a pebble.

kronckew · 29th May 2018, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Simmons

I tend to agree not Australia. I wonder if it is some kind of throwing device.? The groove used as a track to launch a projectile of some form.

Perhaps it is a native American hunting stick? Maybe from arrid or desert regions?

I was waiting to see if anyone caught that thought. think cesta. Originally used by (see flag hint below) shepherds to throw spherical stone or lead bullets & as a sword club. I've heard of one other like this. Not American either, tho their descendants are popular for throwing pelota in Florida, another form is the bait thrower tim mentioned, I have a similar device for throwing tennis balls for the dog:

RSWORD · 30th May 2018, 03:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timo Nieminen

While the profile is similar to the Australian club in the drawing, the 3D shape doesn't look very Australian to me.

From the caption in Partington, club #3 looks like a boomerang-club to me, a flattened club that can be thrown as a boomerang (non-returning, of course). These are often called "lil-lil", and that should find some examples when used as a search term.

One from the British Museum: http://www.britishmuseum.org/researc...13469&partId=1 (photos attached).

There are Australian sword-clubs with long round handles, but the caption "used as swords and as missiles" suggests to me it isn't one of these. One example of a long-handled sword-club:
https://australianmuseum.net.au/image/e076955-club

Yes, unfortunately the example in the book does not give us a feel for the thickness of the club. The book example is 35 1/2” which seems long for most boomerang or throwing clubs and after an exhaustive search in Partingtons, Oldmans and Webster’s this is the only example I can find that has the same shape grip. Plus mine is comparable length.

Timo Nieminen · 31st May 2018, 04:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RSWORD

Yes, unfortunately the example in the book does not give us a feel for the thickness of the club. The book example is 35 1/2” which seems long for most boomerang or throwing clubs

35" is a big boomerang, but it isn't hard to find examples of old boomerangs of that size. A few examples from the British Museum:
http://www.britishmuseum.org/researc...86825&partId=1
http://www.britishmuseum.org/researc...01810&partId=1
http://www.britishmuseum.org/researc...89074&partId=1
http://www.britishmuseum.org/researc...13776&partId=1
http://www.britishmuseum.org/researc...07195&partId=1

colin henshaw · 29th May 2018, 11:19 AM

An intriguing piece. The grooved part seems too long and near the grip to be for propulsion ? Its a bit like a Solomon Islands dance club, and the groove was made to reduce weight. Rennell Island ?? Don't see it being Australian Aboriginal.

Just a wild guess...

kronckew · 29th May 2018, 05:25 PM

Well, I suspect the groove is near the grip so you can hold the bullet in place until you get it into the right position to throw. Looks two-handed.

RSWORD · 30th May 2018, 04:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by colin henshaw

An intriguing piece. The grooved part seems too long and near the grip to be for propulsion ? Its a bit like a Solomon Islands dance club, and the groove was made to reduce weight. Rennell Island ?? Don't see it being Australian Aboriginal.

Just a wild guess...

All great feedback so far. I have a hunch that a positive wood identification could be helpful. It is a blondish wood and I’m not sure if the channel at the top has been carved or if it is natural to the wood. I have seen blondish wood clubs from Australia but can’t recall any examples from the Solomon Island region. It is a hard wood with good weight for its size. The shape of the grip is not unlike some Native American clubs I have seen but I still lean towards the Pacific Islands.

26th May 2018, 11:13 PM	#1
RSWORD Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 1,083	Club Trivia. Have a guess! Someone, Colin I think, stated he wished there were more posts on clubs. I agree! I thought it would be fun to post a couple of unusual examples from time to time and let everyone have a guess. In some cases, I found a reference that I think ID’s it and in some cases I haven’t a clue. Here is the first example. Quite long at 39” when measured in a straight line. This one I think I have found an ID but let’s see who can get it right! Attached Images

27th May 2018, 08:30 AM	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,806	The shape is a bit like a club I had fròm Nuie Island and also a club from Vanuatu, but the handle end is a bit odd for those lands. I might just gamble that it is European? Some sword clubs like this have been shown here from Greece. I have done a little more research and I might decide to change my mind and think this is South American as well. Last edited by Tim Simmons; 27th May 2018 at 02:31 PM.

28th May 2018, 10:06 PM	#6
RSWORD Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 1,083	Hopefully I was able to capture the entire club in this picture. Attached Images

28th May 2018, 10:09 PM	#7
RSWORD Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 1,083	In Partingtons book I found a very similar example listed as Australian. The handle end in the line drawing has the same shape and the curvature is the same. Based on this line drawing my vote is for Australian. Look at number 3. Attached Images

28th May 2018, 10:54 PM	#8
Timo Nieminen Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 422	While the profile is similar to the Australian club in the drawing, the 3D shape doesn't look very Australian to me. From the caption in Partington, club #3 looks like a boomerang-club to me, a flattened club that can be thrown as a boomerang (non-returning, of course). These are often called "lil-lil", and that should find some examples when used as a search term. One from the British Museum: http://www.britishmuseum.org/researc...13469&partId=1 (photos attached). There are Australian sword-clubs with long round handles, but the caption "used as swords and as missiles" suggests to me it isn't one of these. One example of a long-handled sword-club: https://australianmuseum.net.au/image/e076955-club Attached Images

27th May 2018, 09:02 PM	#3
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,178	It'd be easier if the whole club were in a photo...

28th May 2018, 02:29 PM	#4
RSWORD Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 1,083	Thanks for the feedback so far and yes my photography skills leave a bit to be desired. Tim, When I first seen this club it was listed as Native American but I thought initially it might be Nuie Island as well but a few months later I was flipping through a reference book and think I have found a match. Will post this soon.

29th May 2018, 08:01 AM	#9
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,806	I tend to agree not Australia. I wonder if it is some kind of throwing device.? The groove used as a track to launch a projectile of some form. Perhaps it is a native American hunting stick? Maybe from arrid or desert regions?

29th May 2018, 08:52 AM	#10
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,806	It looks similar to a carp fishing bait throwing stick. Perhaps a rabbit or bird hunting stick that throws a pebble.

29th May 2018, 11:19 AM	#14
colin henshaw Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,430	An intriguing piece. The grooved part seems too long and near the grip to be for propulsion ? Its a bit like a Solomon Islands dance club, and the groove was made to reduce weight. Rennell Island ?? Don't see it being Australian Aboriginal. Just a wild guess...

29th May 2018, 05:25 PM	#15
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,178	Well, I suspect the groove is near the grip so you can hold the bullet in place until you get it into the right position to throw. Looks two-handed.