Ulas? Oceanic teaser

David · 21st January 2021, 03:13 PM

Well, i am not particularly a club collector, but i do have one Fiji Ulas. I live near the town of Lunenburg, NS, which is home port to the Picton Castle, a masted tall ship that for many years did annual around the world trips, Fiji being one of their stops. They have a shop in town and sell items they have picked up along their travels.
Anyway, this club, along with a few other, was in their shop for some time and i found it attractive and finally purchased it. It is obviously new and never used, but it seems to have been made in a well-crafted and traditional manner out of a weighty hardwood. Feels great in hand with a nice top-heaviness that would help bring the top of this club down with a nice bit of extra velocity. I am not interested in collecting clubs enough to pay the price that a nice antique example of this club would cost, but feel that for a much more meager price i got a well-crafted example made in the manner that the actual antique items were. This particular style (would it be "f" on your diagram?) is a lovely bit of design and workmanship i think.

Tim Simmons · 21st January 2021, 04:39 PM

Thank you for your reply. I am in two minds and Fiji is still to my experience the main contender for origin as there is a prunus genus native to Fiji

http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/ur...mes:30003057-2

However there are atypical aspects that could question Fiji. Inlay of bone, shell or teeth are common but not the octagonal shape? also the bark still on the stick. Also I could see a Japanese aesthetic ? in this piece .

AndreasM · 21st January 2021, 05:02 PM

As a curator of Japanese art I can tell you that there are no clubs of this shape or form in East Asia and certainly not in Japan.

Tim Simmons · 21st January 2021, 05:22 PM

Geometric shape inlay is common but have never seen an octagon.

Tim Simmons · 21st January 2021, 05:43 PM

Okay I think I have solved the origin. Looking over this again I saw some white bits stuck deep inside one of the root cracks. Frist I though bits of foam packaging then insect remains then rice but with magnification they turn out to be one circular pearl shell disc bead and a broken sort of barrel shape bead. I think most unlikely to be anything else than Fijian Ulas.

RAMBA · 21st January 2021, 07:19 PM

It is a nice piece. Lovely rich color to it and the new discovery of the shell bits in the root is nice. I have only just ventured into the world of Fijian clubs. I recently bought a 1st edition copy of Fijian Weapons & Warfare by Fergus Clunie. There has been a proliferation of altered clubs on the market recently with new inlay intended to deceive. I don't know enough here.

I have also recently purchased this club. While it was attributed to being Samoan it has a striking resemblance to club j in Fig. 20 of Clunie's book. I'm also wondering if the wood in Sandalwood. It has a nice age and patina to it. It certainly is a throwing club for point impact. The point is rounded and flat from such use.

Tim Simmons · 21st January 2021, 07:55 PM

Remarkably similar to the illustration. Sure that is a weapon and the shape would make a good throwing weapon. My piece is more like a baton you could whack somebody with it like close quarter stick fighting but not really a throwing weapon. I did have a few large Fijian clubs but sold them and much of my collection. I am always on the lookout but not prepared to spend the money I used to so I am very pleased with this piece. To build another collection you realise how much work went into the first one.

RAMBA · 21st January 2021, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Simmons

Remarkably similar to the illustration. Sure that is a weapon and the shape would make a good throwing weapon. My piece is more like a baton you could whack somebody with it like close quarter stick fighting but not really a throwing weapon. I did have a few large Fijian clubs but sold them and much of my collection. I am always on the lookout but not prepared to spend the money I used to so I am very pleased with this piece. To build another collection you realise how much work went into the first one.

I ran into a fellow collector of arms etc and we were at an auction recently. We were discussing some of the clubs and other tribal weapons and he said 40 years ago he could by them for nothing compared to today's prices.

21st January 2021, 03:13 PM	#1
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,236	Well, i am not particularly a club collector, but i do have one Fiji Ulas. I live near the town of Lunenburg, NS, which is home port to the Picton Castle, a masted tall ship that for many years did annual around the world trips, Fiji being one of their stops. They have a shop in town and sell items they have picked up along their travels. Anyway, this club, along with a few other, was in their shop for some time and i found it attractive and finally purchased it. It is obviously new and never used, but it seems to have been made in a well-crafted and traditional manner out of a weighty hardwood. Feels great in hand with a nice top-heaviness that would help bring the top of this club down with a nice bit of extra velocity. I am not interested in collecting clubs enough to pay the price that a nice antique example of this club would cost, but feel that for a much more meager price i got a well-crafted example made in the manner that the actual antique items were. This particular style (would it be "f" on your diagram?) is a lovely bit of design and workmanship i think. Attached Images

21st January 2021, 04:39 PM	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,890	Thank you for your reply. I am in two minds and Fiji is still to my experience the main contender for origin as there is a prunus genus native to Fiji http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/ur...mes:30003057-2 However there are atypical aspects that could question Fiji. Inlay of bone, shell or teeth are common but not the octagonal shape? also the bark still on the stick. Also I could see a Japanese aesthetic ? in this piece . Last edited by Tim Simmons; 21st January 2021 at 05:07 PM.

21st January 2021, 05:43 PM	#5
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,890	Ulas Okay I think I have solved the origin. Looking over this again I saw some white bits stuck deep inside one of the root cracks. Frist I though bits of foam packaging then insect remains then rice but with magnification they turn out to be one circular pearl shell disc bead and a broken sort of barrel shape bead. I think most unlikely to be anything else than Fijian Ulas. Attached Images

21st January 2021, 07:19 PM	#6
RAMBA Member Join Date: Apr 2019 Posts: 102	It is a nice piece. Lovely rich color to it and the new discovery of the shell bits in the root is nice. I have only just ventured into the world of Fijian clubs. I recently bought a 1st edition copy of Fijian Weapons & Warfare by Fergus Clunie. There has been a proliferation of altered clubs on the market recently with new inlay intended to deceive. I don't know enough here. I have also recently purchased this club. While it was attributed to being Samoan it has a striking resemblance to club j in Fig. 20 of Clunie's book. I'm also wondering if the wood in Sandalwood. It has a nice age and patina to it. It certainly is a throwing club for point impact. The point is rounded and flat from such use. Attached Images Last edited by RAMBA; 21st January 2021 at 09:17 PM.

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21st January 2021, 05:02 PM	#3
AndreasM Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 9	As a curator of Japanese art I can tell you that there are no clubs of this shape or form in East Asia and certainly not in Japan.

21st January 2021, 05:22 PM	#4
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,890	Geometric shape inlay is common but have never seen an octagon.

21st January 2021, 07:55 PM	#7
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,890	Remarkably similar to the illustration. Sure that is a weapon and the shape would make a good throwing weapon. My piece is more like a baton you could whack somebody with it like close quarter stick fighting but not really a throwing weapon. I did have a few large Fijian clubs but sold them and much of my collection. I am always on the lookout but not prepared to spend the money I used to so I am very pleased with this piece. To build another collection you realise how much work went into the first one.