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Title Hardwood fighting club
Nationality Fijian
Period 18th/early 19th century
Sold

This classic Fijian club is made of something like ironwood, a wood so heavy that I doubt it would float. It has been decorated in its heyday with the burnt rope technique, producing a stripy effect on the surface, similar to the decoration on Kentucky rifle stocks. To judge by the wear on the grip, it is more likely to be an 18th-century example.

The Fijians of this period were man eaters, as were many of the Oceanic peoples scattered throughout the Pacific, and many well known personalities (eg Captain Cook and Bishop Hebber) were done to death with these weapons. Indeed, you would have to be a powerful man to use this correctly, as it would require considerable strength and agility. There is a nice concave section at the base of the grip, used in assisting a thrust to the chest, I suspect. There is also the figure 27 in Roman numerals, followed by a D, undoubtedly an old museum number of some sort. It weighs two kilos and 51 grammes!

The condition of the wood is excellent; all I have done is rub it down with white spirit and then waxed it. There is an old age split, which runs from the base of the grip through to the weapon itself, but this in no sense disfigures the beauty of the piece.

This has got to be the mother of all clubs, from the sheer size of the piece (1m 14cm).

If you want to comment on this item—re quality, age, etc—please email me.


[Edged Weapons : Polearms : Fijian : 18th Century]

testimonials

Many many many thanks about [for] your dagger! Very fine quality! I love it!

A P, Russia, 07.04.2009

The buckle arrived, thank you very much! Very good package!! Thanks for the good and fast service..

C U, Germany, 07.04.2009

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