staff (weapons: bludgeon)

Samoan club of Fijian style dating to the early 19th century with unusual recessed ends top and bottom. Rows and panels of zigzag engraving and 'RATU VUKI' is engraved towards one end.

Cylindrical? staff of casuarina wood, with natural rippling along the surface. Both ends are recessed with a central convex area with a hole in the middle. Three rows of zigzag engraving around the edge. Down one side is longitudinal groove with a line of zigzag carving on each side. Five small square panels of zigzag carving plus RATU VUKI engraved towards one end. Down the groove is an orangish coloured material mostly obscured by dirt but showing through in places. Traces of same material (turmeric?) showing at both ends. Holes in the ends are not exactly centred. Extremely unusual form – Steven Hooper has never seen anything like it.

fighting

object
MUSEUM NUMBER
29.60
Date
early 19th century
PLACE
COLLECTION
MEASUREMENTS
overall: 1130.3 mm x 50 mm
MATERIAL/TECHNIQUE
wood
CATEGORY
Anthropology: Ethnography
LOCATION
In storage
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Collection Information

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