Malaita club.

Tim Simmons · 7th October 2010, 07:20 PM

I have been lucky to pick this club up at a sensible price, still pushing the boat out for me at the present time.
Not the largest version or the finest I have seen but a good enough start, 75cm long so I guess about 18cm wide at the top. Plenty big enough to do some damage. The really big ones, about a metre long would only be the property of the most elite warriors. I wonder if this form is found on islands other than Malaita?
If you have not done so already, I would urge all those interested in this sort of thing to get a copy of "Lightning Meets the West Wind, The Malaita Massacre, Roger M.Keesing/Peter Corris." When I have it I will show it with others.

Ron Anderson · 7th October 2010, 11:24 PM

Hi Tim

Do you know what wood this is made of?

Also, that is an unusual grip, is it not? I have one of these, a small one but nice and old, with the usual grip.

I have seen one of these, immaculate, about the size of this one, for sale here in Aus. I can't afford it (as I have other collecting priorities) but I think the price is extremely reasonable at European prices.

Regards
Ron

PS. I know little about these, except that there are two big Solomon Islands that seem to be in a perpetual state of war and this comes from one of them. If such is the case, it would seem reasonable that the other island would also be using these clubs, if only as the acquired property of war.

Tim Simmons · 8th October 2010, 05:25 PM

Ron these have the sort of handle material that is most often seen in publications. A fine cordage binding. The big one is a stand alone piece of sculpture to me.
The large picture is from "Solomon Island Art, The Conru Collection, 5continents" the example is 91.5 cm long.
The small picture is from "Arts of the South Seas, The Collections of the Musee Barbier-Mueller, Prestel" this example is 82cm long.
Not that much more than the example I hope to recieve. I might be able to do something with the wood, make it look like the pictures? I did say this was got at a sensible price like an average good kerrie.

fearn · 8th October 2010, 08:42 PM

Neat club!

Best,

F

Ron Anderson · 8th October 2010, 10:24 PM

Hi Tim

I like your club and would certainly purchase if it was going at a sensible price.

Mine is small and has some small damage, but I bought it because it has a great patina. The fibre cord is clearly very old.

My club is relatively small and I doubt it can have been used as an effective weapon of war. It must have had another primary function, to my mind.

The reason I asked what kind of wood it was is that this seems of significance. I have also forgotten what kind of what wood mine is, but it is of the variation of timber that is available there.

Will ask the man I purchased it from when next I see him.

But it has a very textural quality.

M ELEY · 10th October 2010, 03:33 AM

Beautiful club indeed. I used to have an older one in less fine shape, but a true fighter. It had the ratten wrapping on the grip. Edge-Partington's Ethnographic Guide is another exceptional book that i had originally used to identify mine. I remember reading in a volume on head-hunting (sorry, a possibly offensive subject) that a young Malaitan male was not considered a warrior until he had claimed his first victem with this type club. He would keep a swath of hair from the slain and wear it in his tribal hat, if I remember correctly. fascinating, if somewhat ghoulish. Many of the Polynesian tribes were, of course, quite ferocious.

7th October 2010, 07:20 PM	#1
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,843	Malaita club. I have been lucky to pick this club up at a sensible price, still pushing the boat out for me at the present time. Not the largest version or the finest I have seen but a good enough start, 75cm long so I guess about 18cm wide at the top. Plenty big enough to do some damage. The really big ones, about a metre long would only be the property of the most elite warriors. I wonder if this form is found on islands other than Malaita? If you have not done so already, I would urge all those interested in this sort of thing to get a copy of "Lightning Meets the West Wind, The Malaita Massacre, Roger M.Keesing/Peter Corris." When I have it I will show it with others. Attached Images

8th October 2010, 05:25 PM	#3
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,843	Ron these have the sort of handle material that is most often seen in publications. A fine cordage binding. The big one is a stand alone piece of sculpture to me. The large picture is from "Solomon Island Art, The Conru Collection, 5continents" the example is 91.5 cm long. The small picture is from "Arts of the South Seas, The Collections of the Musee Barbier-Mueller, Prestel" this example is 82cm long. Not that much more than the example I hope to recieve. I might be able to do something with the wood, make it look like the pictures? I did say this was got at a sensible price like an average good kerrie. Attached Images

7th October 2010, 11:24 PM	#2
Ron Anderson Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 228	Hi Tim Do you know what wood this is made of? Also, that is an unusual grip, is it not? I have one of these, a small one but nice and old, with the usual grip. I have seen one of these, immaculate, about the size of this one, for sale here in Aus. I can't afford it (as I have other collecting priorities) but I think the price is extremely reasonable at European prices. Regards Ron PS. I know little about these, except that there are two big Solomon Islands that seem to be in a perpetual state of war and this comes from one of them. If such is the case, it would seem reasonable that the other island would also be using these clubs, if only as the acquired property of war.

8th October 2010, 08:42 PM	#4
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	Neat club! Best, F

8th October 2010, 10:24 PM	#5
Ron Anderson Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 228	Hi Tim I like your club and would certainly purchase if it was going at a sensible price. Mine is small and has some small damage, but I bought it because it has a great patina. The fibre cord is clearly very old. My club is relatively small and I doubt it can have been used as an effective weapon of war. It must have had another primary function, to my mind. The reason I asked what kind of wood it was is that this seems of significance. I have also forgotten what kind of what wood mine is, but it is of the variation of timber that is available there. Will ask the man I purchased it from when next I see him. But it has a very textural quality.

10th October 2010, 03:33 AM	#6
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,141	Beautiful club indeed. I used to have an older one in less fine shape, but a true fighter. It had the ratten wrapping on the grip. Edge-Partington's Ethnographic Guide is another exceptional book that i had originally used to identify mine. I remember reading in a volume on head-hunting (sorry, a possibly offensive subject) that a young Malaitan male was not considered a warrior until he had claimed his first victem with this type club. He would keep a swath of hair from the slain and wear it in his tribal hat, if I remember correctly. fascinating, if somewhat ghoulish. Many of the Polynesian tribes were, of course, quite ferocious.