Solomon, Hawaiian or????

Gavin Nugent · 15th September 2010, 09:59 AM

Unusual club.

I bought this club (large one on the right) along with some others recently. I was quite taken by the size, age, weight, patina and honest wear to the piece. Whilst it has a Western Solomons feel to me, I can not actually pinpoint the region this piece came from. It might even be Hawaiian or another area of Polynesia

.

The face is also a very nice aspect that appealed to me, not everyones 'cup of tea' though, dark voodoo apects and bound to frighten kids

. It says to me that it is a protective charm with the eyes and mouth wide open, the sharpened teeth showing and that it is eating an arrow

spells to me a powerful 'Come on, throw what you like at me, it aint going to work'.

I would be very interested to hear any thoughts to the origins or design elements of this example.

Gav

Ron Anderson · 15th September 2010, 02:25 PM

I have no idea what it is but I do like it.

fearn · 15th September 2010, 04:59 PM

No clue here, either, I'm afraid. Definitely Post-Contact, wherever it came from. Possibly very Post-Contact. Might be a good door guard, though.

Best,

F

Gavin Nugent · 15th September 2010, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fearn

No clue here, either, I'm afraid. Definitely Post-Contact, wherever it came from. Possibly very Post-Contact. Might be a good door guard, though.

Best,

F

Thanks Ron, Fearn.

My guess is the first half of the 20th century, metal tools have been used to incise the face. The warmth in the handle area shows me is was much used as does the wear to the base from resting on a non paved surface. There is a very nice build up of surface patina too and the chipping from strikes also shows the same stable warm age patina. The flash obscures the warth a little too

I feel strongly towards the Solomon regions but will wait to see what others have to say.

Gav

Gavin Nugent · 16th September 2010, 12:25 AM

Whilst others are pondering, just diversing a little, what out there is known about the purpose behind faces on clubs, it does go back several hundred years, I imagine legend, stories and warding evil spirits and it is seen in so many Pacific cultures, actually everywhere in the world clubs are found I am sure these stories are abound.

Gav

Ron Anderson · 16th September 2010, 08:44 AM

I think in some cultures there is some significance in having faces on clubs. For instance, those whalebones clubs of the NW Pacific. There seems to be significance there, though I personally don't know what it is. It may just be identification of clan/tribe.

In other cultures, it seems pure ornamentation. I think of zulu knobkerries, for instance, were the head of the club has been made into a head/face with nails for eyes. I suspect this has no deeper signficance at all, other than a clever utilisation of the form to create added interest. Art for the sake of art.

In this particular club, my guess is that it is a symbol of aggression. But that's just a guess. I suppose based on the fact that it reminds me of Maori artefacts (and the haka, for that matter), with the tongue sticking out – some kind of war-like challenge among Polynesians perhaps.

Gavin Nugent · 13th November 2010, 12:29 AM

Solomons it is, now the third such club of this form I have noted.
The image attached is from a well known and long established tribal auctioneer.

Gav

15th September 2010, 09:59 AM	#1
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	Solomon, Hawaiian or???? Unusual club. I bought this club (large one on the right) along with some others recently. I was quite taken by the size, age, weight, patina and honest wear to the piece. Whilst it has a Western Solomons feel to me, I can not actually pinpoint the region this piece came from. It might even be Hawaiian or another area of Polynesia . The face is also a very nice aspect that appealed to me, not everyones 'cup of tea' though, dark voodoo apects and bound to frighten kids . It says to me that it is a protective charm with the eyes and mouth wide open, the sharpened teeth showing and that it is eating an arrow spells to me a powerful 'Come on, throw what you like at me, it aint going to work'. I would be very interested to hear any thoughts to the origins or design elements of this example. Gav Attached Images Last edited by freebooter; 15th September 2010 at 10:40 AM.

16th September 2010, 12:25 AM	#5
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	Pondering Whilst others are pondering, just diversing a little, what out there is known about the purpose behind faces on clubs, it does go back several hundred years, I imagine legend, stories and warding evil spirits and it is seen in so many Pacific cultures, actually everywhere in the world clubs are found I am sure these stories are abound. Gav Last edited by freebooter; 16th September 2010 at 03:26 AM.

13th November 2010, 12:29 AM	#7
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	Solomon Islands Solomons it is, now the third such club of this form I have noted. The image attached is from a well known and long established tribal auctioneer. Gav Attached Images

15th September 2010, 02:25 PM	#2
Ron Anderson Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 228	I have no idea what it is but I do like it.

15th September 2010, 04:59 PM	#3
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	No clue here, either, I'm afraid. Definitely Post-Contact, wherever it came from. Possibly very Post-Contact. Might be a good door guard, though. Best, F

16th September 2010, 08:44 AM	#6
Ron Anderson Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 228	I think in some cultures there is some significance in having faces on clubs. For instance, those whalebones clubs of the NW Pacific. There seems to be significance there, though I personally don't know what it is. It may just be identification of clan/tribe. In other cultures, it seems pure ornamentation. I think of zulu knobkerries, for instance, were the head of the club has been made into a head/face with nails for eyes. I suspect this has no deeper signficance at all, other than a clever utilisation of the form to create added interest. Art for the sake of art. In this particular club, my guess is that it is a symbol of aggression. But that's just a guess. I suppose based on the fact that it reminds me of Maori artefacts (and the haka, for that matter), with the tongue sticking out – some kind of war-like challenge among Polynesians perhaps.