[VANDOO]

SOME OF THE FINISHES MAY BE ORIGINAL TO THE TRIBES INVOLVED AND SOME MAY HAVE BEEN ADDED LATER BY A COLLECTOR. IN BOTH CASES IT SERVES THE PURPOSE OF PRESERVING THE CLUB FROM MOLD, BUGS AND MOISTURE. IT IS OFTEN MADE FROM PLANTS AND CAN ALSO SERVE TO SECURE AND PRESERVE FIBER AND CORD WRAP WHERE PRESENT. I ALSO PREFER A UNDAMAGED EXAMPLE WITH A RICH PATINA TO THE WOOD WITH NO ADDED COATING. BUT JUDGEING FROM THE PICTURES YOU HAVE A NICE LOOKING CLUB REGARDLESS OF THE COATING. THE CARVING IS A TRADITIONAL DESIGN AND IN THE LAST PICTURE THE HANDLE SEEMS TO SHOW RINGS . IMPOSIBLE TO TELL IF IT IS IN THE WOOD(WHICH INDICATES AN OLDER HAND WORKED EXAMPLE) OR FROM THE COATING AND THE POSSIBILITY OF IT BEING FIBER OR LINE WRAPED. MOST CLUBS FROM FIJI ARE MADE OF A HEAVY HARD WOOD BUT THE OCCASIONAL EXAMPLE IS MADE OF A LIGHTER MAHOGANY WHICH IS MORE PRONE TO SPLIT AND CHIP OFF BUT IS RESISTANT TO ROT AND BUGS. I KNOW COATINGS WERE USED FOR MANY THINGS AND A COATING WOULD SERVE VERY WELL ON SUCH A CLUB. UNFORTUNATELY THESE OBSERVATIONS ARE BASED ON WHAT I HAVE SEEN AND READ SO ARE MOSTLY MY OPINION. I DON'T HAVE REFRENCES TO A STUDY DONE ON THIS COATING SO USE WHAT I STATE HERE AS A STARTING POINT TO LOOK FOR MORE INFO AND NOT THE TOTAL TRUTH. I HAVE READ FERGUS CLUNNIES WORKS BUT DO NOT HAVE HIS DEPTH OF KNOWLEGE OR EXPERIENCE. NICE FIJI CLUB CONGRADULATIONS.

I INCLUDE A PICTURE OF TWO FIJI CLUBS ONE WITH FIBER WRAPPED HANDLE AND OTHER WITH DARK COATING ON HEAD.
ONE EXAMPLE REPLICA WITH WRAPPED SENNET CORD
AND BLACK COATING
PICTURE 1940 FIJIANS WITH CLUBS SOME WITH FIBER BAND WRAP.NO DOUBT POSED WITH VICTIM BEING TAKEN TO DINNER.