CLUB LIKE UTENSILS NON WEAPONS

[VANDOO]

THERE ARE QUITE A FEW COMMON EVERYDAY ITEMS USED IN TRIBAL LIFE THAT COULD SERVE AS A CLUB BUT WERE USED MOSTLY IN FOOD PREPARATION OR CEREMONY. SOME ARE QUITE NICE AND HAVE DESIGNS BUT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN CARRIED INTO BATTLE EVEN THOUGH THEY WOULD MAKE A SERVICABLE CLUB.
THESE ARE NOT WEAPONS BUT IT MAY KEEP SOMEONE FROM BUYING A FOOD STIRRER AT THE PRICE OF A WAR CLUB.
HERE ARE A FEW EXAMPLES FROM NEW GUINEA, AFRICA AND POLYNESIA. FOR PREPARATION OF SAGO, POI AND GRAINS. MOST ARE WOOD BUT MOST OF THE OCEANIC POI POUNDERS WERE USUALLY STONE. THE STONE ONES MAY HAVE SURVIVED WHERE WOOD DID NOT OR KAPU (LAW)INSISTED STONE BE USED?

[VANDOO]

I WILL INCLUDE SOME PICTURES OF THE STONE POUNDERS FROM TAHITI,MARQUESAS, HAWAII, MICRONESIA. THERE IS A GOOD ARTICLE ON THEM IN TRIBAL ARTS MAGAZINE I INCLUDE SOME PICTURES FROM IT. A GOOD REFRENCE IN CASE SOMEONE COMES ACROSS ONE SOMEWHERE.
1. and 6 from tahiti
2. from micronesia
3. from marquesas
4. hawaii
5. cook islands, made from stalagmite stone

and 3 pictures from tribal arts.

[Billman]

Is pounder the correct description for these stone tools??? It implies a striking action - surely they are used with a rocking/grinding action - stone is relatively brittle, and does not withstand impact well - even light blows, if repeated can break it (c.f. flint knapping with antler or wooden strikers)...

The handle forms on many look as though they would also be rotated, c.f. stone corn mills (quern) see: http://www.angelfire.com/journal/mil.../handmill.html

[fearn]

Hi Billman,

A lot of those are poi pounders from Hawaii. They get used on relatively soft stuff (like pounding taro into poi), and they are used with a wooden board as the anvil. They're used for pounding other foodstuffs, and they come in a variety of grades and materials.

In the back of my mind, I have this faint memory that the Bishop Museum has a pikoi made from a poi pounder. Does that ring any bells?

Best,

F

[Nagawarrior]

Here's a link to my club weapon that turned out to be a spoon or butter churn. Live and learn.

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=2479

[VANDOO]

I WILL ADD A FEW MORE EXAMPLES FOR REFRENCE.
THE STONE POI POUNDERS ARTICLE WAS IN (TRIBAL ARTS MAGAZINE , AUTUM/WINTER 1996 VOL.#11)
1 &2 PICTURES OF A MASSIM SAGO PREPERATION TOOL
2. A FRUNITURE MALLET 31IN LONG
3. & 4 . AFRICA, YOURUBA SHANGO STAFFS, 23 AND 24.5 IN. LONG

[VANDOO]

PICTURES 1,2 & 3 NICELY CARVED WOOD PESTILE 14.5 IN. LONG NOTE THE NICELY ROUNDED END FOR GRINDING IN THE MORTOR.
# 4 & 5. A POUNDING TOOL PERHAPS FOR TAPA OR FOOD PONAPAE 52 CM.LONG
# 6, 7, 8, & 9. TONGA INTERESTING DOUBLE ENDED TAPA BEATER 23 IN. LONG
# 10. SHANGO DANCE WAND 15 INCHES LONG
# 11 & 12. IVORY PESTLES CONGO 1922 ,16.5 IN AND 22.75 IN. LONG.

[manteris1]

I glad that you did this Barry many people have tricked....................jimmy

[VANDOO]

WE COVERED THESE IN ANOTHER POST BUT THERE ARE NO PICTURES HERE I WILL INCLUDE SOME. I CONTINUE TO SEE THESE SOLD REGULARLY ON EBAY AS WAR CLUBS. THE AGITATOR IS THE STICK WITH THE PLUNGER THAT IS PUSHED IN AND PULLED OUT TO CHURN THE MILK AND CAUSE THE BUTTER TO SEPARATE.
#1. TRADITIONAL EITHOPIAN BUTTER CHURN AGITATOR 19 INCHES LONG.
#2. & 3 ANOTHER BUTTER CHURN AGITATOR
#4. ANOTHER AGITATOR
# 5 & 6. I AM NOT SURE ABOUT THIS ONE IT WAS LISTED AS A KNOBKERRY AND IS 29.5 X 8 INCH IN DIAMETER. I THINK IT MAY BE A THROWING CLUB BUT DOES RESEMBLE THE AGITATORS

[VANDOO]

HERE ARE A FEW MORE TOOLS THAT RESEMBLE WEAPONS.
1. PICTURE OF INDONESIAN WEAVING SHUTTLES 120 CM. LONGEST.
2. THREE PICTURES OF A GROUP OF WHAT ARE DESCRIBED AS ROLLERS FOR WEAVING BAMBOO 57 CM LONG FROM LOMBOK. I AM NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE TECKNIUE BUT THEY ARE CLUB LIKE.

[VANDOO]

#1.THIS WAS SOLD AS A OLD RICE BEATER FROM BALI, 36 CM. LONG, WOOD.
#2 & #3. A SIMILAR WOODEN ITEM SOLD AS A WAR CLUB RECENTLY, 39 CM.
LONG.

OFTEN THE FORMS OF COMMON UTENSILS USED FOR THE SAME TASKS
EVOLVE BASICALLY THE SAME OVER A WIDE AREA. THERE MAY BE
DIFFERENCES IN DECORATION BUT OFTEN THE FORMS ARE VERY MUCH ALIKE.

[VANDOO]

#1 & #2. PAPUA NEW GUINEA, SEPIK , FOOD POUNDER, 26.5 IN. lONG

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by VANDOO

#1.THIS WAS SOLD AS A OLD RICE BEATER FROM BALI, 36 CM. LONG, WOOD.
#2 & #3. A SIMILAR WOODEN ITEM SOLD AS A WAR CLUB RECENTLY, 39 CM.
LONG.

OFTEN THE FORMS OF COMMON UTENSILS USED FOR THE SAME TASKS
EVOLVE BASICALLY THE SAME OVER A WIDE AREA. THERE MAY BE
DIFFERENCES IN DECORATION BUT OFTEN THE FORMS ARE VERY MUCH ALIKE.

The piece in the first picture is described correct, it's indeed a rice beater from Bali.

Regards,
Detlef

[Bob A]

The rice beater reminded my wife of the paddle her grandmother used to scoop and scrape butter from the bowl it would have been separated in, and to shape it to fit into a container.

[VANDOO]

#1. 41 CM. USED TO STIR SAGO IN FOOD PREPARATION NEW GUINEA
#2. & #3. SAGO LADLE , 24 IN. NEW GUINEA