Oceanic clubs

[Gavin Nugent]

Originally Posted by VANDOO

BOTH DO APPEAR TO BE GOOD OLD CLUBS FROM NEW GUINEA. MOST ARE REFERRED TO AS MASSIM CLUBS BUT THERE MAY HAVE BEEN OTHER TRIBES WHO USED THIS FORM OF CLUB, I DON'T HAVE ANY REFRENCES TO SORT IT OUT.
THE TWO YOU HAVE DO APPEAR TO BE FROM THE PERIOD WHEN THEY WERE USED FOR FIGHTING. MOST OF THOSE SEEN FOR SALE ON EBAY BY ETH.ART DEALERS TODAY ARE NEW WITH NICE CARVED DESIGNS AND ARE DEFINITELY DANCE CLUBS THEY DO MAKE GOOD WALL HANGERS AND SOME DO SHOW THE CARVING ABILITYS OF THE LOCALS, THEY ALSO SELL A LOT OF WELL CARVED LIME SPATULAS AND BOWLS.
AS TO DANCE CLUBS MOST ANY CLUB MADE TODAY IF USED IN THE TRIBAL SOCIETY IN ANY OTHER WAY THAN TO SELL TO DEALERS OR TOURISTS WOULD ONLY BE USED IN CEREMONIES OR DANCES.
IN THE OLD DAYS THEY WERE USED IN DANCES TO PREPARE FOR A BATTLE AND IN A DANCE AFTERWARDS TO SHOW HOW BRAVE THEY WERE AND HOW THEY DESTROYED THEIR ENEMYS. IN THOSE DAYS YOU NOT ONLY HAD TO FIGHT BUT YOU HAD TO PERFORM AND TELL YOUR PART IN THE BATTLE ONCE YOU RETURNED TO THE VILLAGE OFTEN IN THE FORM OF A DANCE. I AM NOT SURE WHY THIS IS BUT IT SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN A COMMON PRACTICE WORLD WIDE IN TRIBAL SOCIETYS. MANY DANCES WERE OFTEN MARTIAL ART TRAINING SORT OF LIKE THE KATA IN TODAYS MARTIAL ARTS. THIS WAS ESPECIALLY TRUE IN OCEANIC ,POLYNESIAN SOCIETYS.

Outstanding points of reference thanks Vandoo.
I cannot find any reference at this point int time for these smooth clubs without markings as usually found with this shape. Can anyone suggest some light reading on the matter? I am starting to take an interest in weapons of our Australian neighbours . The hilt differences are interesting to me too. the one on the left almost reminds me of a Bhutanese sword hilt. There is one small pic in Stones under clubs that point to this shape being as you say New Guinea but this too has engravings on it if you look very close. Who can I ask to discuss age and development of these clubs?

Gav