MOST DESIRED OCEANIC WAR CLUBS 3: FIJI

[kahnjar1]

Originally Posted by VANDOO

THERE WAS AN UNUSUAL FORM OF CLUB ON EBAY QUITE A WHILE BACK IDENTIFIED AS FROM FIJI. THE FORM WAS SOMETHING I HAD NOT SEEN IN REFRENCES OR MUSEUMS. I BID BUT FAILED BUT KEPT THE PICTURES, I RECENTLY CAME ACROSS AN OLD PICTURE FROM A PUBLICATION IN 1904 SHOWING WHAT APPEARS TO BE THIS FORM OF FIJI CLUB. I DON'T HAVE THE SOFTWARE TO ZOOM IN,CROP OR ENHANCE PICTURES SO WHAT YOU SEE IS ALL I'VE GOT. THE WARRIOR IN FRONT ROW LEFT END HAS THE CLUB IN QUESTION. THE CLUB ON EBAY WAS NEXT TO A CLUB 36 INCHES LONG AND IS ABOUT THE SAME SIZE. PICTURE OF CLUB AND PIC. OF STRIKING END AND PICTURE OF CLUBS BY WALL. 1904 PICTURE FIJI . I HAD A PICTURE OF THE LARGE END OF THE CLUB BUT HAVE FAILED TO FIND IT SO FAR, WILL POST IF I FIND IT.

Hi Barry, The "club" leaning against the door looks more like a Maori Taiaha to me.............nothing to do with Fiji at all.
Stu

[VANDOO]

YOU ARE CORRECT THE TALL CLUB STANDING AGAINST THE WALL IS MAORI THE ONE ON THE FLOOR AND IN ANOTHER PICTURE ON THE TABLE IS THE ONE UNDER DISCUSSION. THE HANDLE END IS LARGER AND REMINDS ME OF AN ACORN IN SHAPE. THE STRIKEING END IS SHOWN IN ANOTHER PICTURE. THE CLUB IS ATYPICAL FOR FIJI AND DIFFERENT IN FORM FROM SIMULAR CLUBS IN OTHER AREAS. TO BE CLEAR THERE ARE NO ACORNS IN FIJI.

[Albert]

Just for sharing, a totokia in my collection.

[VANDOO]

A NICE LOOKING CLUB WITH WHAT APPEARS TO BE A VERY LONG SPIKE WITH A NICE THICKENED POINT. WHAT ARE ITS MEASUREMENTS?

[KraVseR]

Thank you! Are you want to tell about other weapons of Oceania? Samoa, Hawaii, Easter Island? Very interesting!

[VANDOO]

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ight=marquesas
HERE IS A URL FOR THE FIRST POST IN A SERIES OF 3 ON CLUBS THERE IS ONE ON THE COOK ISLANDS AS WELL. I WILL ADD TO THESE POSTS AND CREATE ONES ON OTHER AREAS AS I FIND TIME. I AM GLAD TO SEE THERE IS INTREST IN SUCH POSTS AS THERE ARE MANY VIEWS BUT FEW POSTS OR ITEMS ADDED BY OTHERS, I ALWAYS ENJOY ANYONE ADDING EXAMPLES FROM THEIR COLLECTIONS OR FURTHER INFORMATION OR CORRECTIONS WHEN I GO WRONG.
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...t=COOK+ISLANDS
HERE IS THE URL FOR THE OTHER ONE.

[KraVseR]

Thank you, I've seen them.
I'm interested, there will be 4 Part?

[Albert]

Originally Posted by VANDOO

A NICE LOOKING CLUB WITH WHAT APPEARS TO BE A VERY LONG SPIKE WITH A NICE THICKENED POINT. WHAT ARE ITS MEASUREMENTS?

The total length is 76.5 cm, the length of the spike is approximately 10 cm (depending on where you measure it), and the diameter of the handle is 3.5 cm.

[VANDOO]

HERE ARE MY 5 EXAMPLES OF THE CULACULA FORM OF CLUB. THREE HAVE THE FLARED FLAT BUTT END FOUND ON CLUBS WITH TONGAN INFLUENCES NONE HAVE THE SMALL LUG WITH A HOLE FOUND ON OLDER EXAMPLES I SUSPECT THESE ARE FROM THE 1960'S OR LATER CARVED IN FIJI. THE TWO OLDER EXAMPLES HAVE THE PHALLIC END WHICH I BELEAVE TO BE THE OLDER FORM. THE SMALLEST EXAMPLE IS 32.5 IN. LONG AND IS THE OLDEST PERHAPS 1920'S OR OLDER AND APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN MADE WITH PRIMATIVE TOOLS. THE LARGEST ONE IS 44 IN. LONG AND LIKELY FROM THE 1930'S TO 1950'S. THE LARGE ONE CAME OFF THE WALLS OF A OLD TIKI BAR FROM THE 1930'S TO 1950'S NOW LONG GONE.

3 PICTURES OF A RECENTLY MADE FIJI CLUB WITH FIBER WRAP 28IN. X 8 INCHES.

[VANDOO]

A RARE CLUB FOUND IN CLUNIE'S BOOK ON PLATE 13 FIGURE E DESCRIBED ON PAGE 57 AS."Soke-mantau the knobby axe or knobby club ". THIS IS THE FORM I THINK LOOKS LIKE AN OCTOPUS TENTACLE WITH SUCTION CUPS. I HAVE AN EXAMPLE CARVED IN FIIJI CIRC 1960.