MOST DESIRED OCEANIC WAR CLUBS 3: FIJI

VANDOO · 3rd July 2013, 01:02 AM

THE OLDER ONE OF YOUR FIJI CLUBS IS NOT AS IMPRESSIVE TO LOOK AT AS THE LARGE ONE BUT IS MORE RARE ESPECIALLY WITH THE INTACT FIBER BINDING AND TRACES OF USE, BOTH ARE EXCEPTIONAL EXAMPLES.

CLUNIE POINTS OUT THAT THE PINEAPPLE WAS UNKNOWN IN FIJI WHEN THIS CLUB DESIGN FIRST OCCURED. I THINK HE IS CORRECT IN ASSUMING THE DESIGN WAS INSPIRED BY THE PANDANUS TREE FRUIT. THE TREE WAS USED FOR MANY THINGS NOTABLY LEAVES FOR WEAVING MATS, HATS BASKETS ECT. THE FRUIT HAS A DECENT TASTE BUT IS FIBROUS WITH LITTLE MEAT THE DRIED FIBEROUS SEEDS WERE OFTEN USED AS PAINT BRUSHES FOR PAINTING TAPA DESIGNS.
THE BASE OF THE TRUNK HAS MULTIPLE ROOTS AND MAY HAVE INSPIRED OR BEEN USED TO MAKE A FIJI CLUB CALLED BULIBULI. IT IS A LESS SEEN FORM BUT REMINDS ME OF THE PANDANUS ROOT BALL WHEN WORKED DOWN. THE BULIBULI RANGES IN SIZE UP TO 65 CM. LONG OR LESS. HERE ARE PICTURES OF A PANDANUS FRUIT AND ROOTS AS WELL AS SEVERAL EXAMPLES OF THE FIJI BULIBULI CLUBS. THERE ARE OTHER CLUBS IN SOME PICTURES WHICH GIVE GOOD SIZE INDICATIONS. THERE ARE TWO PICTURES OF A KUKU CLUB FROM NEW GUINEA WHICH MAY BE INFLUENCED BY THE PANDANUS AS WELL.

3rd July 2013, 01:02 AM	#7
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	THE OLDER ONE OF YOUR FIJI CLUBS IS NOT AS IMPRESSIVE TO LOOK AT AS THE LARGE ONE BUT IS MORE RARE ESPECIALLY WITH THE INTACT FIBER BINDING AND TRACES OF USE, BOTH ARE EXCEPTIONAL EXAMPLES. CLUNIE POINTS OUT THAT THE PINEAPPLE WAS UNKNOWN IN FIJI WHEN THIS CLUB DESIGN FIRST OCCURED. I THINK HE IS CORRECT IN ASSUMING THE DESIGN WAS INSPIRED BY THE PANDANUS TREE FRUIT. THE TREE WAS USED FOR MANY THINGS NOTABLY LEAVES FOR WEAVING MATS, HATS BASKETS ECT. THE FRUIT HAS A DECENT TASTE BUT IS FIBROUS WITH LITTLE MEAT THE DRIED FIBEROUS SEEDS WERE OFTEN USED AS PAINT BRUSHES FOR PAINTING TAPA DESIGNS. THE BASE OF THE TRUNK HAS MULTIPLE ROOTS AND MAY HAVE INSPIRED OR BEEN USED TO MAKE A FIJI CLUB CALLED BULIBULI. IT IS A LESS SEEN FORM BUT REMINDS ME OF THE PANDANUS ROOT BALL WHEN WORKED DOWN. THE BULIBULI RANGES IN SIZE UP TO 65 CM. LONG OR LESS. HERE ARE PICTURES OF A PANDANUS FRUIT AND ROOTS AS WELL AS SEVERAL EXAMPLES OF THE FIJI BULIBULI CLUBS. THERE ARE OTHER CLUBS IN SOME PICTURES WHICH GIVE GOOD SIZE INDICATIONS. THERE ARE TWO PICTURES OF A KUKU CLUB FROM NEW GUINEA WHICH MAY BE INFLUENCED BY THE PANDANUS AS WELL. Attached Images