Solomon/PNG for want of better info

[Tim Simmons]

Pushed the boat out today and in a big way for me especially as I was meant to have stopped collecting . I have not seen a club like this before and it cast a spell on me. The photos are not the best. 32 inches long and to my eyes looks like made from a heavy timber. The zigzag caving on the handle does not look Trobriand Islands/Massim work. My thoughts are in the Solomons or surrounding Islands like Island PNG or the Admiralty Islands. If anybody has better ideas please add.

[drac2k]

I can not add anything constructive, but only comment that this club is absolutely stunning and that it looks like it would be very effective!

[Bob A]

"Stunning" seems particularly apropos.

[kronckew]

Gorgeous!

[10thRoyal]

Good morning y'all. Beautiful piece that you have there! I am not an expert by any stretch but do love some research! The pattern on the grip looks similar to some I've seen on Fijian weapons but it's not exactly unique enough to place it as a place of origin.


For the rest of the weapon, I found a few examples of a weapon referred to as a Wawa Votovotoa. I think there are several examples in threads on this site. They seem to resemble your weapon but i can't find enough examples to make a really good case that it's a match to yours. But it is Fijian in origin which would go with the grip pattern. Once again, this is a new area to me so I appreciate your patience.

[Tim Simmons]

10thRoyal,

Thank you for your input , much appreciated. I am not an expert. "Expert", well I could see an "Expert" really no more than an expert in the market, what sells. Especially when it involves clubs and the like, which unlike edged weapons that are often dated and their origin and recording being far more obviously. Many an expert seem to me to just have the means to acquire the best looking and colour of the most desired pieces {in the book} I could question, does that make you an expert?

Looking at the handle the pattern is quite unlike Fijian/Tongan work which as you can see is a tight form of small zigzag carving. The Trobriand zigzag is looser more of a snake zigzag. The upper decorated part of the grip with the grid pattern looks very unlike Fijian carving. The lime inlay is also as far as I have seen not generally a feature on Fijian/Tongan clubs. The knobbly Fijian cubs you post here are to my eye a little less well carved {blasphemy of the cult of over priced ubiquitous Fijian clubs} These are the reason why I suggest the Solomon Islands, PNG and possibly the Bismark Archipelago. However if viewers can be more positive or persuasive do contribute. One rather unlikely origin could be South America. I think if it were to be displayed with right lighting in a Parisian or Belgian gallery it would be given an a origin.

[Tim Simmons]

Well a new development. Link originally uploaded by the Late Great VANDOO in page one there is this example "FIJI CLUB NAMED MADRALI" . So it may well be Fijian and if so I did rather well

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ight=Votovotoa

[Tim Simmons]

Well it has arrived and some new photos. So perhaps lime inlay is not so odd when discussing Fijian clubs. Now I have it in my hands although not one of those big heavy polished clubs, more like the shorter pole clubs. The grip is more suited for two hand gripping making a fast weapon too heavy for one hand use. Some file marks a nice old club and said to be a rare form so I am really quite happy. The grip pattern is tight. The original photo like many ebay photo and I don't know why are like the saying "you cant see the wood for the trees" The limpet distal part of the club seems to have been blackened some way, I imagine to make the lime stand out though there is very little left

[10thRoyal]

Originally Posted by Tim Simmons

Well it has arrived and some new photos. So perhaps lime inlay is not so odd when discussing Fijian clubs. Now I have it in my hands although not one of those big heavy polished clubs, more like the shorter pole clubs. The grip is more suited for two hand gripping making a fast weapon too heavy for one hand use. Some file marks a nice old club and said to be a rare form so I am really quite happy. The grip pattern is tight. The original photo like many ebay photo and I don't know why are like the saying "you cant see the wood for the trees" The limpet distal part of the club seems to have been blackened some way, I imagine to make the lime stand out though there is very little left

One again that is beautiful! You really did well it seems. I'm glad you were able to find the info you needed. It does seem shorter than the other examples. Is there any chance it had once been longer but the handle was shortened or broke at some point? Just a thought.

[Tim Simmons]

Possibly shortened but I doubt it as there is a rather ergonomic concave shape in the grip that makes gripping nice and comfortable.

[RobT]

Tim Simmons,

I have read that fighting canes were hardened by smearing them with butter and shoving them up the chimney for a while. The heat was said to harden the wood. I don't know any details about the procedure, whether it worked, or even if it was actually done and isn't just an old wives' tale. If true however, your club could have been given a similar treatment and that could account for the darkening on the business end. Really nice club in any event.

Sincerely,
RobT

[Interested Party]

Wood could be fire hardened by lightly charring and then scraping the char off. The wood underneath was darkened and hardened. It works well for making spears and projectile points. I don't know if it would be good for such a complex shape, but pre-metal working societies were ingenious in how they shaped and used materials. The technique would shape a shillelagh head nicely. Butter and heat would definitely dry and keep a cane from shattering on impact. Like how soaking a blacksmith hammer handle in tempering oil for a few days is supposed to add life to the wood.

[ausjulius]

Originally Posted by RobT

Tim Simmons,

I have read that fighting canes were hardened by smearing them with butter and shoving them up the chimney for a while. The heat was said to harden the wood. I don't know any details about the procedure, whether it worked, or even if it was actually done and isn't just an old wives' tale. If true however, your club could have been given a similar treatment and that could account for the darkening on the business end. Really nice club in any event.

Sincerely,
RobT

Smoking clubs was common in Gallic cultures. It ads patina to the club, keeps off any insects, makes it black and shiny and gives it a durable surface colour that doesn't wear of easily.
It's drys the wood hard and makes it dense and stable. Like the wooden combs in Japan. I've seen baskets from cane smoked too as it keeps off rot and insects and looks nice. But I've not seen any Pacific clubs smoked

[Tim Simmons]

Greatly appreciated the contributions here on this thread. Some learning here. I was of the opinion that Fijian work did not have lime inlay. All the books I have featuring Fijian art do not show lime inlay so that is a lesson for me and I suspect also for lurking {Experts}. As to not seeing fire hardening in the Pacific I had this example that I post here some years ago. I am sure fire hardening is not simply burning a stick in a fire. The types of woods used would have been most important as some would just burn or be made weaker. Until you see it you have no idea it was done. This New Hebrides/Vanuatu club has had some form of fire treatment. A first for me and I guess others. Sold it with most of my collection many years back, what a fool.

[Tim Simmons]

It was the; can't see the wood for the trees, type of dark photos and the lime inlay that really confused me to opinion the Solomon Island. However in {Fijian Artefacts, Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery Collection, Rod Ewins, first published 1982} there is this picture showing an example clearly with lime inlay.