Nifo Oti
Just found this in my ongoing move!
I picked this up in the Florida panhandle about ten years ago at a little junk shop as a piece of folk art. The shopkeeper didn't have much confidence in it as folk art, as I paid more for lunch that day on the road!
I suspect it is a missionary or navy bring back, arriving here in the second quarter of the 20th century.
There's nothing tourist-market about it. The piece appears to be riven from a log and scraped/whittled into shape. It appears to be made of a somewhat light colored wood that has aged to a dark brown. The wood does not seem to be as dense as palm or other Pacific woods typically used in clubs. There is an old scar where a piece split off of the handle. I tried to show this. An iron staple was hammered into the butt a long time ago, probably for decor enhancement.
One tooth is missing. I believe it is missing from a long time ago.
Overall it measures 29 1/2" long.
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