Solomon, Hawaiian or????

[Lew]

Fearn

Some of those African pieces were used the ring knife was outlawed many years ago and my foot knife is the real deal these were self defense items carried every day in Africa. As far as the sock sword is concerned that was an experimental sword. The kora were used in Nepal for battle up until 1830-50. The African Ngala beheading swords were used back in the 1800s. All those nasty African daggers and swords were used and designed to kill at one time but evolved into status or ceremonial pieces later on in the late 19th and early 20th century.

[Ron Anderson]

Obviously, the primary use of most weapons is to kill or injure.

However, a secondary purpose of many weapons is to bestow status or some sort, which is why they are ornamented.

Sometimes this evolves into the main function of the weapon, and the killing function, as can be seen all over the modern Western world with parade and officers' swords, disappears. This can also be seen with maces and other forms that have evolved into strictly ceremonial pieces in all regions of the world. And this includes the very abundant keris, which this forum devotes an entire forum category to.

So the fact that weapons as we know them are often not created to fulfill the function of weapons, even though they could, is a no-brainer.

But a weapon can both be beautiful and deadly and many weapons did and still fall into that category. Others are created with the intent to just look good. Others are just plain nasty functional things designed to hack, impale or bludgeon.

However, if that was the only purpose weapons had, I for one probably wouldn't be interested in them. Killing other people is an uninspiring activity for the most part. (I don't speak from experience, of course).

[Gavin Nugent]

Excellent dialogue guys and some notions well worth exploring further.

I have looked further into the origins and firmly believe it is Solomon islands, 1940 up to and including WWII based on the design elements seen on other clubs from the regions, maybe a decade earlier .
It is I would say, due to the time period and all that was going on in those regions, a weapon and a protective amulet...others may suggest it was made and traded with occupying forces of the time....though in my opinion it has been used and handled too much for this...
A most unusual club of the region.
Vandoo, you must have something along these lines on your walls..what are your thoughts?

Gav

[VANDOO]

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.

[Gavin Nugent]

Thank you for the most informative post Vandoo.
When I first saw this available, my initial reactions were New Guinea but only in so far as designs I am familiar with on many large shields from the mid 20th century. Once in hand and only then did Solomons ring true with me, the desgin element however still has me pondering. The design is by full inspection as old to me as the club itself and despite the 'simple' design it has been done by expert hands in my eyes as each and every stroke that has cut in to the timber has been done with one consistant fluid motion as there is no clear evidence of stop start stop start to the lower surfaces....I guess carving is like splitting timber, easier to do when it is fresh and green.
Another pointer I thought is the timber type and colour too, a type ususally seen in these regions, not a big clue, just a pointer.
I always enjoy a good mystery.

Gav

[VANDOO]

I LOOKED THRU A FEW MORE REFRENCES BUT I AM STILL FLOUNDERING ABOUT. IN THE TWO BOOK SET "OCEANIC ART" BY ANTHONY J.P. MEYER I FOUND. VOLUME 1 PAGE 129, BOTI LONG WAR CLUBS FROM THE EASTERN PAPUAN GULF.

VOLUME 2 PAGE 354, NEW IRELAND MALAGAN IMAGES
NONE REALLY FIT BUT WERE AS CLOSE AS I FOUND IN THOSE BOOKS.

THE EYE SHAPE IS FOUND IN TIKIS IN SEVERAL ISLANDS, TAHITI, BISMARK ARCHEPELIGO ISLANDS AND NEW ZEALAND. THE ROUND EYE AND EYE SLIT SHAPES ARE ALSO FOUND IN THOSE AREAS. I SUSPECT THE EYE SHAPE AS WELL AS THE MOUTH INDICATES IF THE FIGURE IS ANGRY OR PEACFUL, GOOD OR BAD.

THE PROTRUDING TONGUE IS FOUND MOSTLY IN AREAS SETTLED BY THE MAORI AND I SUSPECT THAT TRIBES DESENDENTS SPREAD INTO OTHER AREAS AS WELL AS NEW ZEALAND. SHARP POINTY TEETH ARE NOT A FEATURE OF THEIR CARVING DESIGNS AND THE SUN BURST PATTERN AROUND THE EYES ON YOUR CLUB DOSEN'T FIT WELL WITH OCEANIC DESIGN. PERHAPS THE CARVER WAS IN A HURRY AND DIDN'T CARE ABOUT TRADITIONAL DESIGNS. THE CARVING COULD PROBABLY HAVE BEEN DONE QUICKLY AND EASILY WITH A SMALL KNIFE.
TWO MAORI PICTURES , ONE TATOO AND ONE MASK
ONE NEW IRELAND ANCESTOR FIGURE WITH BIRD HANGING ON LIP
ONE MARQUESAN STYLE TIKI

[Gavin Nugent]

Nice array of images Vandoo.

I think the new Ireland image is closest thus far in design but the Solomons club previously is closest by design....very ponderous indeed considering how close the regions really are to each other.....

Gav