PNG stone ball club

[Tim Simmons]

Just want to show new toy. Heavily varnished, before and after pictures. Not a big one total length 67cm, in a way I like it all the more. Great wieght to length ratio. Under to varnish the palm wood has a very pleasant smooth patina. The maker has used a resin substance as well as a peg and rattan biding to hold the stone.

[colin henshaw]

Looks good - an honest and genuine piece. I like the combination of materials - stone, wood and rattan.

[Tim Simmons]

Thank you Colin. I have discovered while looking at what I thought was just a lump of resin with a x10 loop. Three human teeth. Although a little macarbre I have to admit to getting a frisson from what is now a rather special piece in the collection.

[Tim Simmons]

Another one under the stone makes four.

[Clubs & Arrows]

Tim,
Great job on stripping the stone of the varnish. It looks much better. Excellent job on scoring a club with hidden bonuses. Outstanding!

Joe

[Tim Simmons]

I do not want to go on about it but you know when you get a new toy it is hard to put it down. Looking at these teeth and they are tooth material. It is very hard to be sure were they come from as they are largely hidden and I cannot be sure that what is visable is crown or root. They are very small so what could they be? If adult human teeth they would have to be fragments? Possiblely infant teeth? used as they are lost? Teeth from some other mamal like a flying fox? Field work needed. I believe some cultures do value the flying fox in a spiritual way?

[colin henshaw]

Might be human teeth - certainly the Fijians inlaid their clubs with human teeth sometimes...

[Tim Simmons]

This is very interesting. Full of academic wordyness if you are into that sort of thing { a trifle long winded for me} it is also has a rather messy focus for most of our roll on, spray on, scented stick dab it off modern tastes. It is well worth reading but if you are struggling scroll down to page 23 and there is mention of Flying Fox which could well be applied to the use magic in weapons. Takes quite a while to fully download. Happy reading I found it pretty hot :cool:

http://umn.academia.edu/DavidLipset/Papers/649803/Dialogics_of_material_culture_male_and_female_in_M urik_outrigger_canoes

[Tim Simmons]

Again wordy wordy but not so messy. Perhaps the bats teeth or indeed the teeth of some other PNG mammal or marsupial offer totemic protection? Flying Fox designs are found on Asmat shields.

http://camel.minpaku.ac.jp/dspace/bitstream/10502/843/1/SES47_005.pdf

[VANDOO]

A VERY NICE CLUB AND THE TEETH ARE AN INTERESTING DISCOVERY. :)
THE LARGE FRUIT BATS MAY BE A POSSIBILITY FOR THE TEETH BUT THE CUSCUS IS OFTEN HUNTED FOR FOOD AND ITS PELT USED AS PART OF THE NATIVE CEREMONJIAL DRESS, HATS, WIGS AND SUCH. THEY HAVE TREE KANGAROOS, DOGS,CATS. I HAVE SEEN QUITE A FEW FORMS OF NECKLACES USING LARGE NUMBERS OF WHAT ARE SAID TO BE DOG TEETH. IF THEY ARE DOG TEETH THEY MUST BE ON THE MENU OVER THERE. PICTURE OF SPOTTED CUSCUS