MOST DESIRED OCEANIC WAR CLUBS 3: FIJI

VANDOO · 29th June 2013, 01:26 AM

THIS CLUB FORM IS RARE AND EVEN FERGUS CLUNIE HAS NO NAME FOR IT ,THERE IS A PICTURE OF IT ON PLATE 4 ITEM G, TEXT ON PG 54.
THERE ARE REPLICAS OF THIS CLUB WHICH ARE LESS RARE. I INCLUDE THIS HERE DUE TO ITS RARIETY NOT BECAUSE IT IS ONE OF THE MOST SOUGHT AFTER OF FIJI CLUBS. I CAN'T SAY IF THESE EXAMPLES ARE ORIGINALS OR REPLICAS BUT THE PICTURES WILL SHOW THE PROPER FORM. SIZE RANGE IS FROM 38INCHES TO 5 FOOT 11 INCHES LONG

dolly-dagger · 29th June 2013, 10:52 AM

Hi Vandoo,
Thank you.Yes, the large Totokia does have some unusual design elements added to the face of the club.There is a similar example in an old Sotheby's catalogue that I have,as well as the one in the French publication of Fijian weapons,one in the group of the images that you posted regarding the Totokia History.This Totokia is a rather large example,with the diameter of the head 7-1/2 inches,and measures 6-1/2 inches from the back of the head to the end of the point.The carving to the handle is 9 inches,and the handle is 2 inches wide,and overall length is about 35 inches,and indeed carved in a bit more complicated style than the norm.I will try to add some more images.It appears that you have a good knowledge of Fijian.I have been told that most, if not all of their club styles derived from nature? Would you know the origins of the Totokia? I am going to try posting the smaller black earlier temple totokia,It retains 90+ percent of the original aha/sennit/magimagi fiber to the base of the handle,and has dried brain matter/blood to the head.Take Care

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.

29th June 2013, 01:26 AM	#1
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	THIS CLUB FORM IS RARE AND EVEN FERGUS CLUNIE HAS NO NAME FOR IT ,THERE IS A PICTURE OF IT ON PLATE 4 ITEM G, TEXT ON PG 54. THERE ARE REPLICAS OF THIS CLUB WHICH ARE LESS RARE. I INCLUDE THIS HERE DUE TO ITS RARIETY NOT BECAUSE IT IS ONE OF THE MOST SOUGHT AFTER OF FIJI CLUBS. I CAN'T SAY IF THESE EXAMPLES ARE ORIGINALS OR REPLICAS BUT THE PICTURES WILL SHOW THE PROPER FORM. SIZE RANGE IS FROM 38INCHES TO 5 FOOT 11 INCHES LONG Attached Images

29th June 2013, 10:52 AM	#2
dolly-dagger Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 4	Totokia-Tuki Hi Vandoo, Thank you.Yes, the large Totokia does have some unusual design elements added to the face of the club.There is a similar example in an old Sotheby's catalogue that I have,as well as the one in the French publication of Fijian weapons,one in the group of the images that you posted regarding the Totokia History.This Totokia is a rather large example,with the diameter of the head 7-1/2 inches,and measures 6-1/2 inches from the back of the head to the end of the point.The carving to the handle is 9 inches,and the handle is 2 inches wide,and overall length is about 35 inches,and indeed carved in a bit more complicated style than the norm.I will try to add some more images.It appears that you have a good knowledge of Fijian.I have been told that most, if not all of their club styles derived from nature? Would you know the origins of the Totokia? I am going to try posting the smaller black earlier temple totokia,It retains 90+ percent of the original aha/sennit/magimagi fiber to the base of the handle,and has dried brain matter/blood to the head.Take Care Attached Images

3rd July 2013, 01:02 AM	#3
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