Rennell island club

colin henshaw · 16th December 2012, 04:35 PM

With that rectangular, "key" type incised pattern, this club could in fact be from South America, probably Brazil ?

Tim Simmons · 16th December 2012, 08:06 PM

Thank you Colin. That thought had crossed my mind and at times I felt sure I had a picture of a similar exmaple from Brazil but when I could not find it I fell back on the Solomons. The thing is, I do have a smaller club of the same diamond narrow paddle form which is definately from the Peruvian/Brazilian Amazon as it was collected there by the person I bought it from.
Another collector made a visit my collection as you have and on seeing it informed me that big versions were also made in the area. It could be that now I have one. The addition of white substance inlay is common to the Amazom just as much as it is in the South Pacific regions. I will post some more pictures to add more visual information as soon as I can..

All the other pictures I have of South American clubs are of no help here. They do have white inlay and I have many picture of varrious product like stools, rattles and baskets with block key type decoration. If anybody has any intersting pictorial reference on South American/Amazon clubs please post it here.

VANDOO · 16th December 2012, 10:16 PM

I LIKE THE CLUB

THERE ARE QUITE A FEW POSIBILITIES AND ITS HARD TO PIN DOWN. THE ID. OF RENNEL ISLANDS SEEMS TO BE IN FREQUENT USE THESE DAYS AND MOST ITEMS ON EBAY SEEM TO BE SOURCED IN AUSTRALIA. QUITE A LOT OF THE RENNEL ISLANDS CLUBS ARE OF THE SMALL FLANGED VARIETY AND ARE RECENT. YOUR EXAMPLE SHOWS SOME AGE AND WEAR AND IS AN UNCOMON FORM SO IS LIKELY NOT JUST SOMETHING RECENT MADE TO FLOG TO THE TOURISTS. I WOULD BE SOMEWHAT SUSPECIOUS OF ITS ORIGIN AS RENNEL ISLAND THE UNUSUAL DESIGN ON THE BLADE AND THE WOVEN FIBER DESIGN MAY HELP YOU PIN IT DOWN.
HERE ARE PICTURES OF 2 CLUBS SIMULAR IN FORM TO YOUR EXAMPLE AND A CLOSEUP OF FIBER WORK, ALL ARE SOLOMON IS.

Tim Simmons · 17th December 2012, 09:41 AM

This picture has been taken from a commercial site. I do not think we are to use direct links. If the use of the picture is a problem then please {mods} deal with as you see fit.

This club is said to be from Guiana, but what makes the modern Guianas also has a huge border with Brazilian Amazon. The club is again of similar form. More interesting to me is the {pommel} end. The size is between the two clubs I have.

I could be thinking that Colin is right about a South American origin which I have to say pleases me greatly.

Tim Simmons · 19th December 2012, 11:19 AM

Another form. 2cm longer than my club from NE Brazil.
http://americanindian.si.edu/searchc...id=Club&page=2

16th December 2012, 08:06 PM	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,925	Thank you Colin. That thought had crossed my mind and at times I felt sure I had a picture of a similar exmaple from Brazil but when I could not find it I fell back on the Solomons. The thing is, I do have a smaller club of the same diamond narrow paddle form which is definately from the Peruvian/Brazilian Amazon as it was collected there by the person I bought it from. Another collector made a visit my collection as you have and on seeing it informed me that big versions were also made in the area. It could be that now I have one. The addition of white substance inlay is common to the Amazom just as much as it is in the South Pacific regions. I will post some more pictures to add more visual information as soon as I can.. All the other pictures I have of South American clubs are of no help here. They do have white inlay and I have many picture of varrious product like stools, rattles and baskets with block key type decoration. If anybody has any intersting pictorial reference on South American/Amazon clubs please post it here. Attached Images Last edited by Tim Simmons; 16th December 2012 at 08:55 PM.

16th December 2012, 10:16 PM	#3
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	I LIKE THE CLUB THERE ARE QUITE A FEW POSIBILITIES AND ITS HARD TO PIN DOWN. THE ID. OF RENNEL ISLANDS SEEMS TO BE IN FREQUENT USE THESE DAYS AND MOST ITEMS ON EBAY SEEM TO BE SOURCED IN AUSTRALIA. QUITE A LOT OF THE RENNEL ISLANDS CLUBS ARE OF THE SMALL FLANGED VARIETY AND ARE RECENT. YOUR EXAMPLE SHOWS SOME AGE AND WEAR AND IS AN UNCOMON FORM SO IS LIKELY NOT JUST SOMETHING RECENT MADE TO FLOG TO THE TOURISTS. I WOULD BE SOMEWHAT SUSPECIOUS OF ITS ORIGIN AS RENNEL ISLAND THE UNUSUAL DESIGN ON THE BLADE AND THE WOVEN FIBER DESIGN MAY HELP YOU PIN IT DOWN. HERE ARE PICTURES OF 2 CLUBS SIMULAR IN FORM TO YOUR EXAMPLE AND A CLOSEUP OF FIBER WORK, ALL ARE SOLOMON IS. Attached Images

17th December 2012, 09:41 AM	#4
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,925	This picture has been taken from a commercial site. I do not think we are to use direct links. If the use of the picture is a problem then please {mods} deal with as you see fit. This club is said to be from Guiana, but what makes the modern Guianas also has a huge border with Brazilian Amazon. The club is again of similar form. More interesting to me is the {pommel} end. The size is between the two clubs I have. I could be thinking that Colin is right about a South American origin which I have to say pleases me greatly. Attached Images

19th December 2012, 11:19 AM	#5
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,925	Another form. 2cm longer than my club from NE Brazil. http://americanindian.si.edu/searchc...id=Club&page=2 Attached Images

16th December 2012, 04:35 PM	#1
colin henshaw Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,429	With that rectangular, "key" type incised pattern, this club could in fact be from South America, probably Brazil ?