MOST DESIRED OCEANIC WAR CLUBS 1: MARQUESAS

[VANDOO]

THE Uu Uu WAR CLUB FROM THE MARQUESAS ISLANDS IS PROBABLY NUMBER ONE ON THE LIST OF MOST COLLECTORS. BUT GOOD OLD EXAMPLES ARE RARE AND FAR BEYOND MOST COLLECTORS FINANCES AND NOT OFTEN FOR SALE. THE MARQUESANS WERE VERY WARLIKE AND COLLECTED SKULLS AS WELL AS ATE ANY WHO FELL INTO THEIR HANDS.
THEY WERE SOME OF THE MOST ARTISTIC PEOPLE IN THE ISLANDS AND EXCELLED IN WOOD, STONE AND IVORY CARVING AS WELL AS THE ART OF THE TATOO.

PAUL GAUGIN SPENT HIS LAST YEARS THERE IT WAS WELL AFTER THE TIME WHEN HE WOULD HAVE BEEN THE HONORED DISH AT THE TABLE. NOTE THE DRAWING OF GAUGINS ENEMY BURNING ALL GAUGINS BELONGINGS AFTER HE HAD DIED, HE WANTED HIS HOUSE BUT DESPIZED HIS ART AND BELONGINGS. THERE IS A PICTURE OF A MARQUESAN VILLAGE WHICH WERE BUILT ON A TERRACE. I NOTE THE LARGE BANYAN TREE NEAR IT AND WONDER IF IT WAS USED AS A HEAD TREE TO LEAVE ENEMY HEADS IN UNTIL THEY WERE PROPERLY DECOMPOSED AND CEREMONIES PERFORMED BEFORE CLEANING AND BRINGING INTO THE VILLAGE PROPER. THIS IS DONE IN SOME OTHER HEADHUNTING CULTURES.
THESE PICTURES ARE OF OLD AUTHENTIC EXAMPLES AND I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO SHOW SOME OF THE VARIATIONS AND DETAILS. LEGNTH IS USUALLY AROUND 49 TO 51 INCHES LONG. ONE PICTURE HAS THE TRADITIONAL WRAP ON THE GRIP AS WELL AS A PICTURE OF THE CLUBS HEAD. THE WRAP IS USUALLY GONE BUT OFTEN ONE CAN SEE WHERE IT ORIGINALLY WAS IF IT HAD EVER BEEN WRAPPED.
NO DROOLING ON THE KEYBOARD IT MAKES A MESS