MOST DESIRED OCEANIC WAR CLUBS 1: MARQUESAS

[VANDOO]

THE Uu Uu WAR CLUB FROM THE MARQUESAS ISLANDS IS PROBABLY NUMBER ONE ON THE LIST OF MOST COLLECTORS. BUT GOOD OLD EXAMPLES ARE RARE AND FAR BEYOND MOST COLLECTORS FINANCES AND NOT OFTEN FOR SALE. THE MARQUESANS WERE VERY WARLIKE AND COLLECTED SKULLS AS WELL AS ATE ANY WHO FELL INTO THEIR HANDS.
THEY WERE SOME OF THE MOST ARTISTIC PEOPLE IN THE ISLANDS AND EXCELLED IN WOOD, STONE AND IVORY CARVING AS WELL AS THE ART OF THE TATOO.

PAUL GAUGIN SPENT HIS LAST YEARS THERE IT WAS WELL AFTER THE TIME WHEN HE WOULD HAVE BEEN THE HONORED DISH AT THE TABLE. NOTE THE DRAWING OF GAUGINS ENEMY BURNING ALL GAUGINS BELONGINGS AFTER HE HAD DIED, HE WANTED HIS HOUSE BUT DESPIZED HIS ART AND BELONGINGS. THERE IS A PICTURE OF A MARQUESAN VILLAGE WHICH WERE BUILT ON A TERRACE. I NOTE THE LARGE BANYAN TREE NEAR IT AND WONDER IF IT WAS USED AS A HEAD TREE TO LEAVE ENEMY HEADS IN UNTIL THEY WERE PROPERLY DECOMPOSED AND CEREMONIES PERFORMED BEFORE CLEANING AND BRINGING INTO THE VILLAGE PROPER. THIS IS DONE IN SOME OTHER HEADHUNTING CULTURES.
THESE PICTURES ARE OF OLD AUTHENTIC EXAMPLES AND I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO SHOW SOME OF THE VARIATIONS AND DETAILS. LEGNTH IS USUALLY AROUND 49 TO 51 INCHES LONG. ONE PICTURE HAS THE TRADITIONAL WRAP ON THE GRIP AS WELL AS A PICTURE OF THE CLUBS HEAD. THE WRAP IS USUALLY GONE BUT OFTEN ONE CAN SEE WHERE IT ORIGINALLY WAS IF IT HAD EVER BEEN WRAPPED.
NO DROOLING ON THE KEYBOARD IT MAKES A MESS

[VANDOO]

SOME OLD PRINTS AND DRAWINGS OF MARQUESAS WARRIORS WITH WEAPONS SOME FROM 1815 BOOK, TABACCO CARDS FROM GERMANY 1932 ECT. CLUBS, SPEAR, SLING AND DAGGER. NOTE THE TATOOS.

[VANDOO]

HERE ARE SOME OF THE MORE RECENT ART CARVINGS THEY ARE STILL DOING TODAY. THE QUALITY VARIES FROM VERY GOOD TO VERY POOR BUT SO FAR ALL I HAVE SEEN HAVE BEEN HAND CARVED WOOD BUT NO DOUBT MACHINE CARVED AND RESIN ONES ARE POSSIBLE. THE OLDER CARVINGS SEEM TO BE BETTER 1950'S THRU 1960'S. THE ITEMS ARE USUALLY SIZED TO FIT IN A SUITCASE SO FULL SIZED CLUBS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. SOME ITEMS ARE CARVED IN THE TRADITIONAL FORM BUT MANY HAVE SERRATED EDGES AS WELL AS PIERCED CARVINGS THRU OUT WITH LOTS OF TIKIS WHERE THEY WOULD NOT BE IN THE OLD TRADITIONS AND DESIGNS. PICTURE 11 IS OF THE BIG END OF A CEREMONIAL PADDLE. OTHERS ARE DAGGERS OR SHORT SPEAR TYPE WEAPONS AND CLUBS.


PERHAPS MEMBER ASH WOULD LIKE TO ADD SOME PICTURES AND INFORMATION TO THE POST ON HIS Uu EXAMPLE AS IT IS A BIT DIFFERENT FROM THOSE ALREADY PICTURED. HINT HINT

[apolaki]

I saw these for short handle replicas for sale at Polynesian cultural center. It was expensive though.. I think this club is beautiful nonetheless!

[T. Koch]

Wow Vandoo, thankyou for an awesome post! I already enjoyed your previous, but smaller post on the Uu Uu, which was the first time I'd heard about it. I knew next to nothing about clubs and wooden weapons before coming here and I don't collect them myself, so your posts has already taught me a lot. The Uu Uu, has got to be the most character-full clubs I've seen - these guys have got personallity for certain!

- actually after your previous post on the Uu Uu, my girlfriend said something like 'Aww, he's the cutest weapon in the world..."

Thanks for everything!


All the best, - Thor

[VANDOO]

HERE ARE PICTURES OF MY 3 EXAMPLES THE TWO LARGER ONES ARE PRE WW2 BUT HAVE BEEN BADLY TREATED BY A PREVIOUS OWNER FOR HANGING ON A WALL LONG AGO. THE SMALLER ONE IS A MORE RECENT SMALL SIZE TOURIST ART ITEM BUT VERY WELL DONE OF A HARD HEAVY WOOD. I WOULD NOT WISH TO BE CONKED BY ANY OF THEM. THE LONGEST IS 46 INCHES, SECOND 42 INCHES AND THE BABY BEAR IS 23 3/4IN. LONG. NONE ARE GOOD OLD PRE CONTACT EXAMPLES.
SOME PICTURES OF OTHER TOURIST ARTS SOME ADZ AND ANOTHER CLUB FORM.

[VANDOO]

HERE ARE THE LAST 2 ITEMS I WILL POST FROM THE MARQUESAS BEFORE I MOVE ON TO THE NEXT CLUB FORM. FEEL FREE TO ADD ANY APPROPRIATE PICTURES OR INFORMATION, THE MORE INFORMATION, COMMENTS AND EXAMPLES PICTURED THE BETTER THE REFRENCE.
1. ADZ 2. TOURIST ART CLUB

[lordkoos]

It's interesting to me how some of the carved motifs resemble native American and Canadian art from the Pacific Northwest and Alaska.

[VANDOO]

THOUGH THE INFLUENCES IN ART AND BELIEFS ARE SEEN ALL OVER THE WORLD. BECAUSE WE HAVE NO WRITTEN HISTORY OF OCEANIC MIGRATION OR ITS MANY EPIC VOYAGES IT IS LARGELY IGNORED.
THUS WE ONLY HEAR OF COLUMBUS, MAGELLAN AND CAPTIAN COOK NOT THOSE WHO ARRIVED BEFORE THEM WITH THE CULTURES THEY FOUND ON THEIR ARRIVAL.
THERE ARE MANY SIMULARITYS IN THE ART OF THE PEUBLO DWELLING TRIBES OF AMERICA AND IN ANCIENT CHINESE ART ESPECIALLY EARLY POTTERY. NORTHWEST AND OCEANIC ART ALSO HAS MANY SIMULARITYS WITH ASIA. WE KNOW SO LITTLE BUT TRY TO PUT THE PIECES OF THE PUZZLE TOGETHER KNOWING THAT MANY PIECES ARE MISSING.

[ASH]

Great Thread,
Thank you VANDOO for bringing the topic of war clubs in to the fray.
These's 'U'u clubs have got to be some of the most interesting and striking of any of the world's weapons! An interesting side note about there height, I was told that it was determined by the owner's arm pit height, so that the club would rest there like a kind of crutch.
I know I just shared some pics of my clubs in recent posts, but here are some more of my 'U'u.
Lookin forward to the rest of your "greatest club threads"!

[VANDOO]

ASH TWO FEATURES ON YOUR CLUB ARE VERY INTERESTING THE NOSE AND MOUTH CARVED ON THE HEAD OF THE CLUB ON ONE SIDE ONLY IS UNIQUE. THE OTHER IS ON SOME OF THE TIKIS THE EYE RESEMBLES A LEAF MAKES ONE WONDER IF THERE IS BOTH ANIMAL AND PLANT INCORPORATED A BIT INTO THE DESIGNS WHICH ARE NO DOUBT BASED ON THE BELIEFS OF THE SOCIETY. THE DESIGNS AND FORMS ARE ART BUT HAVE MEANING AS WELL AND CONSIDERING THE SERIOUSNESS OF BREAKING ANY TAPU IN POLYNESIAN SOCIETYS, TRADITION AND BELIEFS WERE NO DOUBT FOLLOWED.
ONE PICTURE OF A UU AND A CEREMONIAL PADDLE. I AM NOT SURE IF THIS KIND OF PADDLE WAS USED IN THE MARQUESAS BUT DO KNOW IT WAS FOUND IN THE COOK IS. AND PERHAPS IN TAHITI.
THE OTHER UNIQUE MARQUESAS CARVING WERE CEREMONIAL STILTS NOT SURE WHAT CEREMONIAL PURPOSE THEY SERVED? TWO PICTURES OF STILTS AND A UNUSUAL TIKI CARVING IN TRADITIONAL MARQUESAN FORM.

[VANDOO]

TWO MORE INTERESTING VARIATIONS CLOSED TODAY I BID WITH 2 SECONDS TO GO BUT THE SAME SNIPER GOT ME ON BOTH. FROM THE AMOUNT OF WINS AND FEEDBACK OF THE BIDDER ITS LIKELY WE WILL SEE THEM ON AUCTION IN FUTURE. IF HE IS JUST A COLLECTOR LIKE ME HE IS EVEVEN SICKER THAN ME AND MUST HAVE AN ENOUMUS HOUSE.
THE LARGER ONE IS 53 INCHES TALL AND THE SHORTER ONE 39 INCHES. I SUSPECT NEITHER IS PRECONTACT BUT EARLY ONES MADE FOR SALE TO THOSE WHO TRAVEL. THE SHORTER IS LIKELY THE NEWER OF THE TWO. NOT HANDELING THEM I WOULD GUESS 1930'S TO 1940'S IMPOSIBLE TO TELL FROM PICTURES.

[VANDOO]

THREE MORE MARQUESAS WARRIOR/CHIEF. THE PICTURE IS SAID TO BE FROM 1879

[VANDOO]

YET ANOTHER VARIATION SURFACES AND SELLS ON EBAY. SAID TO BE 1920'S 47 IN. LONG X 5.25 IN. WIDE X 3 IN. THICK.

[Diceman]

Originally Posted by VANDOO

ASH TWO FEATURES ON YOUR CLUB ARE VERY INTERESTING THE NOSE AND MOUTH CARVED ON THE HEAD OF THE CLUB ON ONE SIDE ONLY IS UNIQUE. THE OTHER IS ON SOME OF THE TIKIS THE EYE RESEMBLES A LEAF MAKES ONE WONDER IF THERE IS BOTH ANIMAL AND PLANT INCORPORATED A BIT INTO THE DESIGNS WHICH ARE NO DOUBT BASED ON THE BELIEFS OF THE SOCIETY. THE DESIGNS AND FORMS ARE ART BUT HAVE MEANING AS WELL AND CONSIDERING THE SERIOUSNESS OF BREAKING ANY TAPU IN POLYNESIAN SOCIETYS, TRADITION AND BELIEFS WERE NO DOUBT FOLLOWED.
ONE PICTURE OF A UU AND A CEREMONIAL PADDLE. I AM NOT SURE IF THIS KIND OF PADDLE WAS USED IN THE MARQUESAS BUT DO KNOW IT WAS FOUND IN THE COOK IS. AND PERHAPS IN TAHITI.
THE OTHER UNIQUE MARQUESAS CARVING WERE CEREMONIAL STILTS NOT SURE WHAT CEREMONIAL PURPOSE THEY SERVED? TWO PICTURES OF STILTS AND A UNUSUAL TIKI CARVING IN TRADITIONAL MARQUESAN FORM.

Vandoo, The Paddle in that sketch is actually from the Austral Islands. They were not used in the water. Quite a few of them were made and used for trade. I think I heard somewhere that there are about 1000 in private collections and museums. Here is one I carved a few years ago.

[Diceman]

Here are some more U'u pics of some pieces I have carved.

[Diceman]

More U'u pics from others. I have more also if you guys are interested?

[Sajen]

Originally Posted by Diceman

More U'u pics from others. I have more also if you guys are interested?

Yes, please!

[VANDOO]

WELCOME TO THE FORUM DICEMAN
ITS GREAT TO HAVE A NEW MEMBER WITH AN APPRECIATION AND KNOWLEGE OF THESE CLUBS AND OTHER FORMS OF OCEANIC ART. BEAUTIFUL WORK ON THE PADDLE AND OTHER ITEMS IT WOULD TAKE A LOT OF PRACTICE TO AQUIRE THE SKILL TO MAKE THEM. I HAVE DONE SOME WOOD CARVING SO CAN APPRECIATE THE SKILL, DIFFICULTY AND TIME INVOLVED IN MAKEING SUCH CARVINGS.
I HAVE NEVER VISITED THE MARQUESAS BUT EVIDENTLY THEY ARE STILL CARVING THE CLUBS AND SOMETIMES THE PADDLES AND OTHER ITEMS.
I SAW A PADDLE AND SOME LARGE BOWLS ON DISPLAY IN TAHITI AT A ONCE A YEAR ART AND CRAFT FAIR FROM THE SURROUNDING ISLANDS. THATS BEEN YEARS AGO BUT DURING THE FAIR IS A GOOD TIME TO BE IN TAHITI AS THERE IS A LOT OF ACTIVITY AND MORE COOL THINGS TO BUY. THERE IS NO BAD TIME TO BE IN TAHITI UNLESS IT IS DURING A TYPHOON
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE OF YOUR WORK AND THIS TOPIC IS A GOOD PLACE FOR IT AS FUTURE REFERENCE. OR START A NEW POST FOR OTHER FORMS IF YOU WISH.
HERE ARE TWO MORE PICTURES OF A RECENT MARQUESAS ART CLUB. AND THREE GOOD CLOSEUP DETAIL ON A GOOD OLD ORIGINAL CLUB

[Diceman]

More of my carvings. The way the pics work on here its hard to name them individually? so here goes.

[Diceman]

More.

[Diceman]

And More.

[Diceman]

More.

[VANDOO]

HERE ARE A COUPLE MORE PICTURES ONE OF A GOOD OLD UU CLUB AND ONE OF TWO OLD STILTS. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN CARVING? I HAVE A FEW OF THE OLD WOOD CLUBS AND TIKIS FROM THE 1950'S TO 1960'S TIKI CRAZE . THERE WAS A LOT OF DEMAND IN THOSE DAYS FOR GOOD TIKI DECOUR . NICE QUALITY WORK ON YOUR ITEMS

[VANDOO]

A FEW MORE PICTURES FIRST PICTURE CLUB COLLECTED 1820 THE OTHER TWO OF A 55 INCHES LONG CLUB WITH WRAPED GRIP WITH HUMAN HAIR. BOTH IN THE COLLECTIONS OF THE PEABODY MUSEUM.

[Battara]

W W!

Insanely great workmanship!

I have always loved these pieces, but alas can never afford them.

[VANDOO]

THE GOOD OLD PRE CONTACT CLUBS ARE NOT AVAILABLE AND IF THE ODD ONE POPS UP THE PRICES ARE WAY OUT OF THE RANGE OF MOST OF US POOR MORTALS. DUE TO THE EXOTIC BEAUTY OF THE CARVINGS THEY HAVE REMAINED POPULAR AND VARIOUS ARTISTS HAVE CONTINUED TO MAKE THEM TO SUPPLY THE DEMAND. IT HAS BEEN FUN AND AN UNEXPECTED BONUS TO GET TO SEE SOME OF THE MODERN WORK HERE IN THESE POSTS.
THE GOOD MODERN CARVINGS ARE NOT CHEAP BUT CAN BE AFORDABLE TO MOST OF US SO IT IS POSSIBLE TO HAVE A EXAMPLE OF THE FORMS AND ART AT LEAST. SOME OF THE MODERN EXAMPLES IN THESE POSTS HAVE CROSSED OVER INTO FIJI AND OTHER ISLANDS BESIDES THE MARQUESAS BUT WITH THE OTHER POSTS AVAILABLE EVERYONE SHOULD BE ABLE TO SORT THEM OUT.

[VANDOO]

THE WHALE BOOM STARTED AROUND SAMOA IN 1820 TO 1860. THE WHALEING FLEETS WERE THE BIGGEST FROM 1845 TO 1855 BUT THE HIGHT OF THE BOOM WAS 1832 TO 1839.
I WAS WONDERING IF THE TUFTS OF HAIR ON THE GRIP OF SOME CLUBS WAS FROM ANCESTORS AND THERE FOR SPIRITUAL HELP AND PROTECTION IN BATTLE. ANCESTORS WERE VERY IMPORTANT AND THE AMOUNT OF MANA A OLD WARRIOR OR CHIEF WOULD HAVE BEEN GREAT BUT I FOUND NO CONFIRMATION OF HAIR OR OTHER THINGS BEING USED ON WEAPONS.
I DID FIND IN PORTERS WRITINGS THIS ( WHEN A CHIEF WENT TO VISIT ANOTHER TRIBE THE CANOE WAS PROFUSELY DECORATED. ONE OF THE MOST PRESTIGEOUS DECORATIONS WAS LOCKS OF HUMAN HAIR INTERMIXED WITH BUNCHES OF GREY BEARD HAIR. BUNCHES OF GREY BEARD HAIR ARE ORNAMENTS HELD IN THE GREATEST ESTIMATION AMONG THEM.) SO PERHAPS THE GREY HAIR ON THE GRIP OF THE LAST EXAMPLE IS PARTIALY EXPLAINED. NOT BY THE HAIR OF MY CHINNY CHIN CHIN

[VANDOO]

PICTURE #1. OLD CLUB 58 INCHES LONG
#2. 1880 PICTURE
#3. 1875 PICTURE

[VANDOO]

LINKS TO OTHER FORUM POSTS ON THE MARQUESAS.
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ight=marquesas

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