Lot 166
Oceania, Polynesia, Fiji Islands, ca. 19th to early 20th century CE. A gorgeous and finely patinated war club of a hefty form known as a "waka vividrasa" (translated as "fiber-bound root"), hand-carved from incredibly dense rootstock. The slender lower body tapers to an easily-gripped handle, and the original, full-length club would have had a stocky handle wrapped with coconut sennet fibers and a knob-form pommel. The head of the club is optimized for skull-crushing efficiency with six protruding fin-shaped tabs surrounding a thick, conical projection. Covered in incredibly smooth caramel-hued patina, this is a wonderful and fabulously-brutal example of durable Fijian weaponry! Size: 4.7" W x 20.6" H (11.9 cm x 52.3 cm).
The waka vividrasa club was a favorite weapon among the Fijian natives. It utilized the bludgeoning properties of a mace while still maintaining an elegant, uncomplicated form which could be wielded by even novice warriors. The chosen rootstock for any given club comes from a carefully cultivated sapling which, after harvesting, provides for an incredibly dense material from which a club can be carved. The globular striking head is shaped from the thick buttress area of the root and requires a substantial amount of practice and patience to carve so as to preserve its form throughout its lifespan.
Provenance: ex-private Los Angeles, California, USA collection, acquired at auction
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#148125
- Condition: Original lower handle missing. Minor nicks to fin-shaped protrusions, and several stable fissures with light encrustations within, otherwise intact and very good. Light earthen deposits and fabulously smooth patina throughout.
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