PONDERING INDEED
I FINALLY FOUND TIME TO LOOK THRU PARTINGTONS TOME BUT DIDN'T CONFIRM ANYTHING THERE. MY GUT FEELING WAS THE BISMARK ARCHIPELAGO (NEW BRITAN), (NEW IRELAND) OR POSSIBLY NEW GUINEA. THE DESIGN CRUDELY CARVED INTO IT DOSEN'T REALLY FIT WITH ANY OCEANIC DESIGNS, IT SEEMS TO BORROW FROM SEVERAL. IS THE DESIGN NEWER THAN THE CLUB? THAT COULD EXPLAIN A LOT IF IT WAS DONE BY SOMEONE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE TRADITIONAL DESIGNS OF THE TRIBE SO HE MADE UP HIS OWN.
I CONSIDER THIS FORM OF CLUB TO FIT IN THE SWORD STYLE OF CLUB DUE TO ITS SHAPE AND FUNCTION. THE CLOSEST I COULD FIND TO THE SHAPE IN PARTINGTONS WERE 1. PAGE 219 SOLOMON ISLANDS FIG #2,
2. NEW BRITAN PAGE #134 I WILL LOOK THRU SOME OTHER REFRENCES AS TIME PERMITS. NICE AND INTERESTING CLUB.
INCLUDED ONE PICTURE OF A SOLOMON IS. CLUB SIMULAR SHAPE BUT WITH THE USUAL SHELL INLAY. ITS THE CLOSEST TO YOURS I HAVE A PICTURE OF BUT YOUR DESIGN IS NOT TYPICAL FOR THE SOLOMONS.
ONE PICTURE OF SEVERAL CLUBS FROM THE BISMARK ARCHEPILIGO WITH TRADITIONAL DESIGNS.