Aboriginal Club for Comments

[Queequeg]

The gentleman from whom I got this said it was an Australian-Aboriginal fighting stick. I was wondering if anyone here could give me any further information on this piece.

The wood is very, very heavy and hard (I can't make a mark on it with my fingernail and it dents all of the other hardwoods I've rapped against it).

Overall shot. It's about 32" long and has a snake with a head on each end carved around the shaft:
http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd143/Detroit_Panday/AboriginalClub1.jpg

A close up of one head, showing the polyhedral surface and one end of the snake:
http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd143/Detroit_Panday/AboriginalClub2.jpg

From one head down:
http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd143/Detroit_Panday/AboriginalClub3.jpg

The head next to my hand for size comparison:
http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd143/Detroit_Panday/AboriginalClub4.jpg

The body of the snake carving:
http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd143/Detroit_Panday/AboriginalClub5.jpg

Thanks in advance for any information. :)

[Lew]

I think it is more African the snake motif is pretty common in the southern parts could be Zulu?

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=5804&highlight=walking+stick

[fearn]

My first thought on seeing it was knobkerrie. But looking at it, double-ended and all, I can believe it's Australian, but perhaps made for the (cough) more modern art market?

Best,

F

[VANDOO]

THOUGH IT IS CRUDE AND ATTRACTIVE I WOULD CLASSIFY THIS AS FOLK ART AND RECENT NOT A CLUB.
IF THE WOOD IS ALL NATURAL WITH WOOD BURNING DESIGN IT MAY BE SOME SORT OF GUM TREE FROM AUSTRALIA.
IF THE WOOD HAS BEEN STAINED TO MAKE THE CONTRAST THAT TECKNIQUE IS MORE PREVELENT FOR SUCH ITEMS FROM AFRICA. THE SNAKE IS A RE-OCCURING DESIGN IN AUSTRALIA (THE RAINBOW SERPENT) AS WELL AS AFRICA, NORTH AMERICA ,ECT., ECT.

[katana]

Hi Queequeg,
I believe this is a 'weet weet' an aboriginal throwing stick with conical ends....effective range around 40 metres. It is thrown by swinging back and forth a few times and then launching it with a underhand jerking movement.
Yours being ornate, is perhaps ceremonial, but could also be touristy...

Best
David