Club quiz

[RSWORD]

Looking for opinions about the origins of this club. I have some thoughts but want feedback first. I think it is a pretty old club. Has a four sided head and the handle has that uneven surface from being chip carved. Patina is quite nice. Has that chocolate glossy brown color. Thanks for the additional insights.

[Tim Simmons]

To me although the shape is unusual (if I am on the right track) I feel this maybe African. There is something about the triangle decoration that makes me think of Chokwe club decoration. :shrug:

[RSWORD]

Thank you for the feedback Tim. It seems quite unique for Africa but I wouldn’t rule out that possibility given how little information is out there on African clubs. Could you share some Chokwe decorative motif that are similar?

[colin henshaw]

What is the length of the piece ? I wonder if it could be a tool for making barkcloth or similar ? Such items were used in both Central Africa and Oceania.

[colin henshaw]

Looking through the Oldman Catalogue, I see they illustrate (very small images) Chokwe clubs with square section heads. So this certainly could be a possible attribution. The wood colour and incised decoration are also correct for Chokwe work.