Niue or Solomon Island.

Tim Simmons · 20th December 2010, 04:41 PM

Managed to score this beauty. Listed as Solomon Islands but I am not so sure. It is 35" long and although it does look similar to the Solomon parrying club/shield club it is also different in many ways. I have pictures of a clubs from west Polynesia to Austral Islands that have similar features. Short of time just the moment so pictures latter.

colin henshaw · 20th December 2010, 05:54 PM

Definitely Niue Island. Well done....

fearn · 20th December 2010, 10:26 PM

Oh yes. Definitely Niue. Congratulations!

F

Tim Simmons · 31st December 2010, 12:20 PM

I am very pleased with this item. The only picture of a similar club is too large for my scanner but can be found on page 490 in "Oceanic art, Anthony JP Meyer" The example in the book is almost twice as long as mine but the form is the same {note the ridge following the length of the club to the grip} My club is 35.5 inches in a straight line from tip to tip. I am not an expert but in my mind this is a rare club.

Sajen · 31st December 2010, 01:31 PM

Congrats, a rare and nice one, I like the good patination.

Regards,

Detlef

VANDOO · 31st December 2010, 08:12 PM

CONGRADULATIONS A VERY WELL MADE EXAMPLE WITH A NICE PATINA.
I HAVE SEEN THIS FORM REFERRED TO AS A GAUATA PARRYING CLUB ALSO AS A SHIELD CLUB USUALLY JUST IDENTIFIED BY SOLOMON ISLANDS. HERE ARE A FEW PICTURES OF THE FORM.

fearn · 31st December 2010, 11:30 PM

I'm with Tim. I think it's from Niue.

See Page 163 in this book

Best,

F

Tim Simmons · 1st January 2011, 12:50 PM

fearn, thanks for that link. You are a bad influence as I have now ordered a copy. Alone not bad but when "An Ethnology of the Admiralty Islands" is added rather naughty

.

This club is rather like a sword club. It is light enough to be used fast with one had in much the same way as the shorter light Dha. Close contact with a spike end. The grip has plenty of room for two hands. I am surprised how well balanced and pleasant it is in the hand.

fearn · 1st January 2011, 09:54 PM

Glad to oblige!

Happy New Collection Addition,

F

Tim Simmons · 12th January 2011, 08:00 PM

Fascinating book. Really just an early 20th century catalogue of the the material in the Pennsyvania University Museum, trying to bring some order to the collection of South Seas clubs. Printed 1917 but the English is very old fashioned even for then. The auther is humble enough to say that in some degree through lack of earlier study, oppinion is part of the corp of knowledge. To my mind there is one slight wobble which could be me reading between the lines ie -as the similar form is found in the Melanesian Solomons, {Melanesian may read as being thought of as lesser? than the Polynesian Samoan} it was introduced by travelling Niue people. There is no copyright on this publication. The club in the picture is longer but you can see the form is clearly the same.

P.S. the top script should be second.

Tim Simmons · 6th April 2016, 11:07 AM

Just adding a little more to this thread from the AMNH. Form variation these look heavier.
https://anthro.amnh.org/anthropology...20ST%2F%204519

eftihis · 6th April 2016, 04:39 PM

I have for some time this club, i bought it from abroad, and i believe is a creta sword club, but i am not sure! I see resemblance with these clubs. What is your opinion about the origin?

Tim Simmons · 6th April 2016, 07:31 PM

That's a lovely piece of wood. Beautifully made. Sure it is what you say with the carved sword grip normally covered with ray or shark skin. I would imagine they are not the most common of Greek weapons and a good thing to have, especially when you think of how common yataghan and shashka are.

eftihis · 6th April 2016, 07:59 PM

These are the usual shapes of Cretan sword club (called "spathoravdi" or "spathoverga"). I included the one in discussion.

Tim Simmons · 6th April 2016, 08:33 PM

Very cool lots of them. Lucky chap

More seriously this shows small Islands making weapons form local resources where metals may not be found with ease. One side of the world to the other, when one side was thought of as savages.

20th December 2010, 04:41 PM	#1
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,746	Niue or Solomon Island. Managed to score this beauty. Listed as Solomon Islands but I am not so sure. It is 35" long and although it does look similar to the Solomon parrying club/shield club it is also different in many ways. I have pictures of a clubs from west Polynesia to Austral Islands that have similar features. Short of time just the moment so pictures latter. Attached Images Last edited by Tim Simmons; 20th December 2010 at 05:06 PM. Reason: Spelling

31st December 2010, 12:20 PM	#4
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,746	I am very pleased with this item. The only picture of a similar club is too large for my scanner but can be found on page 490 in "Oceanic art, Anthony JP Meyer" The example in the book is almost twice as long as mine but the form is the same {note the ridge following the length of the club to the grip} My club is 35.5 inches in a straight line from tip to tip. I am not an expert but in my mind this is a rare club. Attached Images

31st December 2010, 08:12 PM	#6
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	CONGRADULATIONS A VERY WELL MADE EXAMPLE WITH A NICE PATINA. I HAVE SEEN THIS FORM REFERRED TO AS A GAUATA PARRYING CLUB ALSO AS A SHIELD CLUB USUALLY JUST IDENTIFIED BY SOLOMON ISLANDS. HERE ARE A FEW PICTURES OF THE FORM. Attached Images

1st January 2011, 12:50 PM	#8
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,746	fearn, thanks for that link. You are a bad influence as I have now ordered a copy. Alone not bad but when "An Ethnology of the Admiralty Islands" is added rather naughty . This club is rather like a sword club. It is light enough to be used fast with one had in much the same way as the shorter light Dha. Close contact with a spike end. The grip has plenty of room for two hands. I am surprised how well balanced and pleasant it is in the hand. Attached Images

12th January 2011, 08:00 PM	#10
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,746	Fascinating book. Really just an early 20th century catalogue of the the material in the Pennsyvania University Museum, trying to bring some order to the collection of South Seas clubs. Printed 1917 but the English is very old fashioned even for then. The auther is humble enough to say that in some degree through lack of earlier study, oppinion is part of the corp of knowledge. To my mind there is one slight wobble which could be me reading between the lines ie -as the similar form is found in the Melanesian Solomons, {Melanesian may read as being thought of as lesser? than the Polynesian Samoan} it was introduced by travelling Niue people. There is no copyright on this publication. The club in the picture is longer but you can see the form is clearly the same. P.S. the top script should be second. Attached Images

20th December 2010, 05:54 PM	#2
colin henshaw Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,430	Definitely Niue Island. Well done....

20th December 2010, 10:26 PM	#3
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	Oh yes. Definitely Niue. Congratulations! F

31st December 2010, 01:31 PM	#5
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,608	Congrats, a rare and nice one, I like the good patination. Regards, Detlef

31st December 2010, 11:30 PM	#7
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	I'm with Tim. I think it's from Niue. See Page 163 in this book Best, F

1st January 2011, 09:54 PM	#9
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	Glad to oblige! Happy New Collection Addition, F

6th April 2016, 11:07 AM	#11
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,746	Just adding a little more to this thread from the AMNH. Form variation these look heavier. https://anthro.amnh.org/anthropology...20ST%2F%204519 Attached Images

6th April 2016, 04:39 PM	#12
eftihis Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Chania Crete Greece Posts: 501	is this relevant? I have for some time this club, i bought it from abroad, and i believe is a creta sword club, but i am not sure! I see resemblance with these clubs. What is your opinion about the origin? Attached Images

6th April 2016, 07:31 PM	#13
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,746	That's a lovely piece of wood. Beautifully made. Sure it is what you say with the carved sword grip normally covered with ray or shark skin. I would imagine they are not the most common of Greek weapons and a good thing to have, especially when you think of how common yataghan and shashka are.

6th April 2016, 07:59 PM	#14
eftihis Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Chania Crete Greece Posts: 501	These are the usual shapes of Cretan sword club (called "spathoravdi" or "spathoverga"). I included the one in discussion. Attached Images

6th April 2016, 08:33 PM	#15
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,746	Very cool lots of them. Lucky chap More seriously this shows small Islands making weapons form local resources where metals may not be found with ease. One side of the world to the other, when one side was thought of as savages.