CARVING VARIATIONS ON OCEANIC CLUBS

VANDOO · 20th February 2010, 07:08 PM

THE EARLY WAR CLUBS WERE CARVED USING SHELL, BONE AND CORAL AND STONE WHERE AVAILABLE. THEIR CONSTRUCTION WAS A SLOW AND DIFFICULT TASK SO THEY WERE CARVED MOSTLY FOR DESIGN AND FUNCTION. THIS BEING THE CASE DECORATION WOULD HAVE BEEN HELD TO A MINIMUM AND PROBABLY SERVED TO HELP THE GRIP AND PERHAPS FOR SOME TAILSMANIC PROPERTYS. MARKS AND DESIGNS COULD HAVE BEEN ADDED LATER AS A WARRIORS STATUS GREW DENOTING KILLS AND VICTORIES. PERHAPS SOME CARVING WOULD HAVE DENOTED AN ACE BASED ON HIS NUMBER OF KILLS.

HUMAN TEETH WERE SOMETIMES INSET IN CLUBS FROM FIJI, I AM NOT AWARE OF THAT PRACTICE ON OTHER ISLAND GROUPS WEAPONS.

THERE WERE NO DOUBT SOME CEREMONIAL CLUBS OR THOSE CARRIED BY HIGH CHIEFS OR ALEEHE THAT WERE MORE FULLY CARVED. THESE WOULD HAVE BEEN STATUS SYMBOLS AND NO DOUBT WERE ATTRIBUTED TO HAVE MAGIC POWERS (MANNA) WHEN CONTACT WAS MADE AND METAL TOOLS ARRIVED IT MADE MAKEING AND CARVEING WEAPONS MUCH EASIER AND FASTER SO MORE DESIGNS COULD BE EASILY ADDED. THERE WOULD ALSO HAVE BEEN MORE OUTSIDE INFLUENCE FROM OTHER ISLANDS AS WELL AS FROM EUROPE. PATTERNS WERE NO DOUBT COPIED FROM WEAPONS AND TEXTILES AS WELL AS ACTUAL OBJECTS SUCH AS SHIPS AND PEOPLE.
AT THAT POINT I WOULD SAY IT WAS THE GOLDEN AGE OF CARVEING AND THE MOST INTRICATE AND ARTISTIC EXAMPLES WERE MADE. THEY MAY HAVE NOT BEEN AS TRADITIONAL AS THE OLDER WEAPONS BUT AS FOR ART AND WORKMANSHIP WERE THE BEST. OVER THE YEARS IT WOULD HAVE DEGRADED WHEN CARVERS SAW THEY COULD SELL A INFERIOR EXAMPLE WHICH TOOK A FRACTION OF THE TIME AND WORK TO MAKE FOR AS MUCH AS A MASTERPIECE.
THERE IS A RECENT BOOK OUT ON THE SAMOAN FIRE KNIFE. IT HAS SOME HISTORY BUT IS MOSTLY ABOUT THE SAMOAN WHO MADE THE FIRE KNIFE DANCE A POPULAR PART OF ALL POLYNESIAN SHOWS.

TWO PICTURES OF A TONGAN STYLE CLUB WITH HUMAN FIGURE
ONE PIC OF RECENT FIJI CLUB WITH SENNET CORD BINDING ( NOTE THE SHAFT IS CARVED IN AS A SQUARE SHAFT NOT ROUND AS IS PROPER)

Tim Simmons · 20th February 2010, 07:45 PM

I have googled "fire dance knife"
I do not want too wander too far from clubs but thought I should show some pictures of this blade. The handle does have the same more restrained banded decoration seen on some Somoan clubs. The blade is very sharp indeed 17cm long not big, why so sharp? As I said I feel the blade has been stone ground from a machete or other European blade, you can all make up your own minds on that.

Tim Simmons · 20th February 2010, 08:11 PM

Early 20th century Samoan club with decoration showing clear decadence and decline. However I think it has been used, there is a weight forward bias to one edge rather like a Moro Kris. It is this side that carries most damage and signs of use. The carved form is basic function 63cm long. I do not know what makes the lime inset pink.

fearn · 21st February 2010, 04:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Simmons

I have googled "fire dance knife"
I do not want too wander too far from clubs but thought I should show some pictures of this blade. The handle does have the same more restrained banded decoration seen on some Somoan clubs. The blade is very sharp indeed 17cm long not big, why so sharp? As I said I feel the blade has been stone ground from a machete or other European blade, you can all make up your own minds on that.

Hi Tim,

The tie-in of interest is that, with the fire knife, we have a traditional blade that is a direct and known descendent of a club, the nifo oti. Offhand, I can't think of another good example of that. The interesting part was that the first knives were, I believe, made as copies of the clubs by an English firm for export, and the islanders subsequently learned how to manufacture their own.

But you're right. Back to the clubs!

Best,

F

laEspadaAncha · 22nd February 2010, 05:51 AM

Here's an Australian Aboriginal example acquired in the '70s (along with a shield, a woomera, and a penalty spear) from an antique store in Melbourne. The club measures about 27 1/2 inches in length.

The carving is limited to a diagonal cross-hatched pattern on the grip-end that seems more functional than decorative, and two sets of carved rings (visible in the second photo). There is a pitch covering of some sort covering the grip-end that reminds me of the tar pitch used to seal an Apache water tus.

Not nearly as visually appealing as the stunning examples shown in this thread - by comparison, a veritable "ugly stick."

VANDOO · 22nd February 2010, 08:34 PM

THE AUSTRALIAN CLUBS AND DIGGING STICKS ARE A GOOD EXAMPLE OF PURELY FUNCTIONAL CARVING. THAT DIFFERS FROM DECORATIVE DESIGN WHICH OFTEN SERVES THE SAME PURPOSE OF GIVING YOU A BETTER GRIP. THE PLANT RESIN ALSO HELPS THE GRIP AS WELL AS HAVING A KNOB ON THE HANDLE END AND PERHAPS A LANYARD. WARRIORS NO DOUBT LEARNED THE LESSON EARLY THAT LOSING ONES CLUB IN BATTLE WAS BAD. EVEN IF YOU ESCAPED YOU LOST YOUR CLUB AND WOULD HAVE TO ENDURE YOUR FELLOW WARRIORS DOING A DANCE SHOWING HOW FUNNY YOU LOOKED RUNNING FOR YOUR LIFE AFTER YOU LOST YOUR CLUB.

THE ABORIGINAL WEAPONS OFTEN HAD VERY PLAIN DECORATION BUT THEY ALSO HAD SOME GOOD CARVEING BUT OFTEN WERE PAINTED WITH PIGMENTS FOR CEREMONIAL OCCASIONS OR TO DENOTE YOUR TRIBAL FAMILY. THE MOST INTRICATE CARVING SEEMS TO HAVE COME FROM TONGA, NEW ZEALAND, MAORI AND MARQUESAS. MANY OTHER ISLANDS DID INTRICATE CARVING BUT IT WAS USUALLY NOT AS COMPLEX AS THOSE MENTIONED ABOVE.
TWO PICTURES OF A AUSTRALIAN LEAGLE CLUB SIMPLE CARVING ON HANDLE AND NOTE HOW THE TREE WAS BENT AND GROWN IN THE CURVE BEFORE HARVESTING TO MAKE THE CLUB.
TWO PICTURES OF A AUSTRALIAN CLUB WITH CARVING ,PERHAPS THE HEAD OF THE CLUB REPRESENTS THE JABBARU BIRD.
CLOSEUP OF THE SIMPLE CARVING ON THE HANDLE OF A NEW CALEDONIAN CLUB SIMULAR TO THE STIPPLED STYLE ONTHE CLUB HEAD.

Tim Simmons · 27th February 2010, 07:35 PM

Not wanting this thread does wither so quickly I add this piece. One of my favourites. I like the way the grip is sensitively cut to form decoration in a "Jackson Pollock" kind of fashion. Most of all I like the chevron pattern sculpted in the whole form rather than an applied decoration. Gives the object a life/vibration of its own, very clever. It can feel like holding a large just caught Mackerel, or am I just a little strange?

Lew · 28th February 2010, 02:13 PM

Tim

Here is another example.

20th February 2010, 07:08 PM	#1
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	THE EARLY WAR CLUBS WERE CARVED USING SHELL, BONE AND CORAL AND STONE WHERE AVAILABLE. THEIR CONSTRUCTION WAS A SLOW AND DIFFICULT TASK SO THEY WERE CARVED MOSTLY FOR DESIGN AND FUNCTION. THIS BEING THE CASE DECORATION WOULD HAVE BEEN HELD TO A MINIMUM AND PROBABLY SERVED TO HELP THE GRIP AND PERHAPS FOR SOME TAILSMANIC PROPERTYS. MARKS AND DESIGNS COULD HAVE BEEN ADDED LATER AS A WARRIORS STATUS GREW DENOTING KILLS AND VICTORIES. PERHAPS SOME CARVING WOULD HAVE DENOTED AN ACE BASED ON HIS NUMBER OF KILLS. HUMAN TEETH WERE SOMETIMES INSET IN CLUBS FROM FIJI, I AM NOT AWARE OF THAT PRACTICE ON OTHER ISLAND GROUPS WEAPONS. THERE WERE NO DOUBT SOME CEREMONIAL CLUBS OR THOSE CARRIED BY HIGH CHIEFS OR ALEEHE THAT WERE MORE FULLY CARVED. THESE WOULD HAVE BEEN STATUS SYMBOLS AND NO DOUBT WERE ATTRIBUTED TO HAVE MAGIC POWERS (MANNA) WHEN CONTACT WAS MADE AND METAL TOOLS ARRIVED IT MADE MAKEING AND CARVEING WEAPONS MUCH EASIER AND FASTER SO MORE DESIGNS COULD BE EASILY ADDED. THERE WOULD ALSO HAVE BEEN MORE OUTSIDE INFLUENCE FROM OTHER ISLANDS AS WELL AS FROM EUROPE. PATTERNS WERE NO DOUBT COPIED FROM WEAPONS AND TEXTILES AS WELL AS ACTUAL OBJECTS SUCH AS SHIPS AND PEOPLE. AT THAT POINT I WOULD SAY IT WAS THE GOLDEN AGE OF CARVEING AND THE MOST INTRICATE AND ARTISTIC EXAMPLES WERE MADE. THEY MAY HAVE NOT BEEN AS TRADITIONAL AS THE OLDER WEAPONS BUT AS FOR ART AND WORKMANSHIP WERE THE BEST. OVER THE YEARS IT WOULD HAVE DEGRADED WHEN CARVERS SAW THEY COULD SELL A INFERIOR EXAMPLE WHICH TOOK A FRACTION OF THE TIME AND WORK TO MAKE FOR AS MUCH AS A MASTERPIECE. THERE IS A RECENT BOOK OUT ON THE SAMOAN FIRE KNIFE. IT HAS SOME HISTORY BUT IS MOSTLY ABOUT THE SAMOAN WHO MADE THE FIRE KNIFE DANCE A POPULAR PART OF ALL POLYNESIAN SHOWS. TWO PICTURES OF A TONGAN STYLE CLUB WITH HUMAN FIGURE ONE PIC OF RECENT FIJI CLUB WITH SENNET CORD BINDING ( NOTE THE SHAFT IS CARVED IN AS A SQUARE SHAFT NOT ROUND AS IS PROPER) Attached Images

20th February 2010, 07:45 PM	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,843	I have googled "fire dance knife" I do not want too wander too far from clubs but thought I should show some pictures of this blade. The handle does have the same more restrained banded decoration seen on some Somoan clubs. The blade is very sharp indeed 17cm long not big, why so sharp? As I said I feel the blade has been stone ground from a machete or other European blade, you can all make up your own minds on that. Attached Images

20th February 2010, 08:11 PM	#3
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,843	Early 20th century Samoan club with decoration showing clear decadence and decline. However I think it has been used, there is a weight forward bias to one edge rather like a Moro Kris. It is this side that carries most damage and signs of use. The carved form is basic function 63cm long. I do not know what makes the lime inset pink. Attached Images

22nd February 2010, 08:34 PM	#6
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	THE AUSTRALIAN CLUBS AND DIGGING STICKS ARE A GOOD EXAMPLE OF PURELY FUNCTIONAL CARVING. THAT DIFFERS FROM DECORATIVE DESIGN WHICH OFTEN SERVES THE SAME PURPOSE OF GIVING YOU A BETTER GRIP. THE PLANT RESIN ALSO HELPS THE GRIP AS WELL AS HAVING A KNOB ON THE HANDLE END AND PERHAPS A LANYARD. WARRIORS NO DOUBT LEARNED THE LESSON EARLY THAT LOSING ONES CLUB IN BATTLE WAS BAD. EVEN IF YOU ESCAPED YOU LOST YOUR CLUB AND WOULD HAVE TO ENDURE YOUR FELLOW WARRIORS DOING A DANCE SHOWING HOW FUNNY YOU LOOKED RUNNING FOR YOUR LIFE AFTER YOU LOST YOUR CLUB. THE ABORIGINAL WEAPONS OFTEN HAD VERY PLAIN DECORATION BUT THEY ALSO HAD SOME GOOD CARVEING BUT OFTEN WERE PAINTED WITH PIGMENTS FOR CEREMONIAL OCCASIONS OR TO DENOTE YOUR TRIBAL FAMILY. THE MOST INTRICATE CARVING SEEMS TO HAVE COME FROM TONGA, NEW ZEALAND, MAORI AND MARQUESAS. MANY OTHER ISLANDS DID INTRICATE CARVING BUT IT WAS USUALLY NOT AS COMPLEX AS THOSE MENTIONED ABOVE. TWO PICTURES OF A AUSTRALIAN LEAGLE CLUB SIMPLE CARVING ON HANDLE AND NOTE HOW THE TREE WAS BENT AND GROWN IN THE CURVE BEFORE HARVESTING TO MAKE THE CLUB. TWO PICTURES OF A AUSTRALIAN CLUB WITH CARVING ,PERHAPS THE HEAD OF THE CLUB REPRESENTS THE JABBARU BIRD. CLOSEUP OF THE SIMPLE CARVING ON THE HANDLE OF A NEW CALEDONIAN CLUB SIMULAR TO THE STIPPLED STYLE ONTHE CLUB HEAD. Attached Images

27th February 2010, 07:35 PM	#7
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,843	Not wanting this thread does wither so quickly I add this piece. One of my favourites. I like the way the grip is sensitively cut to form decoration in a "Jackson Pollock" kind of fashion. Most of all I like the chevron pattern sculpted in the whole form rather than an applied decoration. Gives the object a life/vibration of its own, very clever. It can feel like holding a large just caught Mackerel, or am I just a little strange? Attached Images

22nd February 2010, 05:51 AM	#5
laEspadaAncha Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 608	Here's an Australian Aboriginal example acquired in the '70s (along with a shield, a woomera, and a penalty spear) from an antique store in Melbourne. The club measures about 27 1/2 inches in length. The carving is limited to a diagonal cross-hatched pattern on the grip-end that seems more functional than decorative, and two sets of carved rings (visible in the second photo). There is a pitch covering of some sort covering the grip-end that reminds me of the tar pitch used to seal an Apache water tus. Not nearly as visually appealing as the stunning examples shown in this thread - by comparison, a veritable "ugly stick."

28th February 2010, 02:13 PM	#8
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Tim Here is another example. Attached Images