Question re: significance of design of u'u clubs

laEspadaAncha · 28th May 2011, 10:36 PM

So our local maritime museum (www.sdmaritime.org) has just launched a nice exhibit covering the three voyages of Cook, as well as those of Melville and Gauguin, and featuring examples of Gauguin's work. The exhibit is rich in aboriginal art, including some fine examples of 19th century war clubs. Unfortunately, there is no photography allowed, so I was unable to take photographs in or of the exhibit.

Among the war clubs were a couple u'u, similar to the one I have attached a photo of below.

My question is, what is the significance of the three skulls that seem to be a compulsory design element in every u'u' I have seen?

28th May 2011, 10:36 PM	#1
laEspadaAncha Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 608	Question re: significance of design of u'u clubs So our local maritime museum (www.sdmaritime.org) has just launched a nice exhibit covering the three voyages of Cook, as well as those of Melville and Gauguin, and featuring examples of Gauguin's work. The exhibit is rich in aboriginal art, including some fine examples of 19th century war clubs. Unfortunately, there is no photography allowed, so I was unable to take photographs in or of the exhibit. Among the war clubs were a couple u'u, similar to the one I have attached a photo of below. My question is, what is the significance of the three skulls that seem to be a compulsory design element in every u'u' I have seen?