PNG sword club

colin henshaw · 3rd December 2017, 06:37 PM

Very nice piece Tim, congratulations. But are you sure its not Amazonian ?

Tim Simmons · 4th December 2017, 03:53 PM

It was sent to from AUS. It was part of an AUS collection auctioned with some bows and very large paddle. The paddle was clearly PNG. The bows were not obviously PNG. The auction described the items as being collected on the Mambare River. You have to take auction descriptions at time with a pinch of salt. Lots can come to them mixed and they cannot be expert at every thing and may have to take a vendors general ideas for what they are. I think they were right but saying that, just because it can from AUS does not mean all items hail from that part of the world. Take for example this Amazon club which came to me from AUS.

fireiceviper · 6th February 2018, 11:48 PM

could i see some closeup pictures of this club?

Tim Simmons · 7th February 2018, 10:44 AM

Close up pics. This is PNG. Colin was only giving a bit of banter when he suggested Amazon, I think. I can show Amazon clubs made from South American black palm. So far I believe there is only one species of black palm in South America.

Tim Simmons · 7th February 2018, 11:33 AM

Here is the South American black palm. The structure is quite different. The clay/lime inlay is found from South America to Oceania and Australasia.

fireiceviper · 7th February 2018, 03:31 PM

I believe there some species that are a lot more similar to your png palmwood, i have some "souvenir" items that have the same kind of wood (not suggesting yours is a souvenir or from the Amazon!!!) ill post them when i get home.

I also believe i have seen the "flower"patterns on some massim war clubs before.

Tim Simmons · 7th February 2018, 04:18 PM

To tell the truth all our collections are souvenirs. However that is quite different from tourist trade souvenirs.

4th December 2017, 03:53 PM	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,855	It was sent to from AUS. It was part of an AUS collection auctioned with some bows and very large paddle. The paddle was clearly PNG. The bows were not obviously PNG. The auction described the items as being collected on the Mambare River. You have to take auction descriptions at time with a pinch of salt. Lots can come to them mixed and they cannot be expert at every thing and may have to take a vendors general ideas for what they are. I think they were right but saying that, just because it can from AUS does not mean all items hail from that part of the world. Take for example this Amazon club which came to me from AUS. Attached Images

7th February 2018, 10:44 AM	#4
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,855	Close up pics. This is PNG. Colin was only giving a bit of banter when he suggested Amazon, I think. I can show Amazon clubs made from South American black palm. So far I believe there is only one species of black palm in South America. Attached Images

7th February 2018, 11:33 AM	#5
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,855	Here is the South American black palm. The structure is quite different. The clay/lime inlay is found from South America to Oceania and Australasia. Attached Images

3rd December 2017, 06:37 PM	#1
colin henshaw Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,429	Very nice piece Tim, congratulations. But are you sure its not Amazonian ?

6th February 2018, 11:48 PM	#3
fireiceviper Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 87	could i see some closeup pictures of this club?

7th February 2018, 03:31 PM	#6
fireiceviper Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 87	I believe there some species that are a lot more similar to your png palmwood, i have some "souvenir" items that have the same kind of wood (not suggesting yours is a souvenir or from the Amazon!!!) ill post them when i get home. I also believe i have seen the "flower"patterns on some massim war clubs before.

7th February 2018, 04:18 PM	#7
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,855	To tell the truth all our collections are souvenirs. However that is quite different from tourist trade souvenirs.