Samoan weapons

KraVseR · 30th July 2013, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fearn

That woven suit of coconut fiber looks like it comes out of Kiribati (Gilbert Islands). Was there something similar in Samoa or not?

F

Wood, J. G wrote that it was used in Samoa.

Tim Simmons · 30th July 2013, 05:57 PM

Fiji, Tonga and Samoa are usually thought of as a group Western Polynesia. Like macro Polynesia for easy of discussion. Sharks teeth, sting ray barbs and other animal parts would have been used for weapons and utensils. Your question about Samoan club forms is probably best answered by looking at the figure sculpture from "Western Polynesia" It is rare, but documented pieces all appear to be carved in a cultural school or pool of style. Clearly there are Island specific forms of club, finding good written and picture documentation is a problem. The early and modern reproductions of Samoan clubs are, I think, extractions from the earlier models.

KraVseR · 30th July 2013, 06:18 PM

Thanks. But where I can find images of this sculpture? And what about American Samoa?

Tim Simmons · 31st July 2013, 05:39 PM

Well you have added research. All I can add is what many other will agree with that is; there is generally no instant knowledge. This comes with years of books, museums and handling. Weapons from American Samoa cannot be different from German Samoa and the many Western Polynesian Islands as mentioned before. Although there are extremely desirable rare Polynesian clubs, the common forms one can find, in my opinion are not as interesting as Melanesian clubs.

KraVseR · 31st July 2013, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Simmons

Well you have added research. All I can add is what many other will agree with that is; there is generally no instant knowledge. This comes with years of books, museums and handling. Weapons from American Samoa cannot be different from German Samoa and the many Western Polynesian Islands as mentioned before. Although there are extremely desirable rare Polynesian clubs, the common forms one can find, in my opinion are not as interesting as Melanesian clubs.

Thanks. In pre-colonial period this islands had a one culture, yes?

KraVseR · 1st August 2013, 03:54 PM

And one more question: how to pronounce the names of these weapons?
As ordinary american words or they have specifics?

30th July 2013, 05:57 PM	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,922	Fiji, Tonga and Samoa are usually thought of as a group Western Polynesia. Like macro Polynesia for easy of discussion. Sharks teeth, sting ray barbs and other animal parts would have been used for weapons and utensils. Your question about Samoan club forms is probably best answered by looking at the figure sculpture from "Western Polynesia" It is rare, but documented pieces all appear to be carved in a cultural school or pool of style. Clearly there are Island specific forms of club, finding good written and picture documentation is a problem. The early and modern reproductions of Samoan clubs are, I think, extractions from the earlier models.

30th July 2013, 06:18 PM	#3
KraVseR Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Ukraine Posts: 128	Thanks. But where I can find images of this sculpture? And what about American Samoa?

31st July 2013, 05:39 PM	#4
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,922	Well you have added research. All I can add is what many other will agree with that is; there is generally no instant knowledge. This comes with years of books, museums and handling. Weapons from American Samoa cannot be different from German Samoa and the many Western Polynesian Islands as mentioned before. Although there are extremely desirable rare Polynesian clubs, the common forms one can find, in my opinion are not as interesting as Melanesian clubs.

1st August 2013, 03:54 PM	#6
KraVseR Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Ukraine Posts: 128	And one more question: how to pronounce the names of these weapons? As ordinary american words or they have specifics?