MOST DESIRED OCEANIC WAR CLUBS: 2 COOK ISLANDS

kronckew · 27th December 2014, 02:48 PM

ref. link: Poo Rapa thread with a few more pics.

POO RAPA short club, attributed to Rarotonga, Cook islands:

looks like a traditional form as in the posts above. does not appear to be very old. listed as 'vintage' circa mid 20th c.

13.75 in long 5.5 in. across the blade 5/8in. thick. hardwood.

it weighs 260 grams (0.57 lb or 9.17 oz.)

the serrated 'edge' is sharp all the way around. there is some very slight wear on the short edge, leading me to think it has been used, and that it is used like an axe, and by thrusting like a maori patu. there is a very small chip off the rounded exterior 'corner' of the short edge. the grip is not uncomfortable, the serrations add to keeping a secure grip. not sure if it would remain comfortable with sustained use, but i doubt a combat with it would last long, win or lose.

there are parallel scratches transverse and longitudinal that appear to be from sanding with, er...sand. it has an lightly varnished but matt surface. could be an oil finish.

the holes are all the same, about 1/8 in. & look like they are from a modern twist drill. one hole had a small seed husk in it, but no seed. overall, some slight dings from handling.

the coconut fibre hanging loop is braided & looks old. it has a much thinner tan cotton loop added that appears to have once been attached to a, sadly now missing, label tag that may have had more info.

VANDOO · 27th December 2014, 07:06 PM

VERY WELL DONE.

THANKS

kronckew · 20th January 2015, 04:34 PM

Found another photo of one on the interweb. it had fibres at the top thru the two holes then wrapped into one short brush/wisk.

VANDOO · 2nd May 2015, 05:07 AM

A FEW MORE COOK ISLAND EXAMPLES. MOST PICTURES ARE FROM THE OLDMAN CATALOGS. HE SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN THE TOP COLLECTOR OF ITEMS FROM THE COOK ISLANDS.
#1. A RARE COOK ISLAND PADDLE, SPEAR, CLUB NOTE THE SPIKE AT THE TIP.(402)
#2. ANOTHER FORM OF CLUB WITH A QUADRANGULAR POINT MAY BE TONGAN OR COOK ISLANDS. (506)
#3.A PICTURE SHOWING VARIOUS COOK ISLAND CLUB BUTTS AND THE VARIATIONS OF THE EYE CARVINGS BELOW THE BLADE.
#4. COOK ISLAND POLE SPEARS ONE WITH A SEA TURTLE DESIGN REPEATED IN THE CENTER OF THE BLADE. 133.5 INCHES LONG
#5., #6. #7. & #8. COOK ISLAND CLUBS
#9. RARATONGA WARRIOR COOK ISLANDS
#10. COOK ISLAND ITEMS,CLUBS AND CEREMONIAL PADDLES, CLUB #1 IN THE GROUP
#11. ATUI ISLAND CLUB, COOK ISLANDS
#12. COOK ISLANDS, MANGELA IS. NATIVE 1796

VANDOO · 4th May 2015, 07:53 PM

#1. A GRAPH ABOUT COOK ISLAND ARTEFACTS

VANDOO · 29th December 2015, 03:46 PM

TWO MORE PICTURES OF COOK ISLAND CLUBS

VANDOO · 1st June 2016, 06:23 PM

I WAS RECENTLY IN RARATONGA AND HAD THE PLEASURE OF MEETING PEOPLE AND SEEING SOME RECENT WORK BEING DONE AS WELL AS SEEING ITEMS IN THE MUSEUMS. MOST CARVINGS ARE FOR TOURISTS AND NOT VERY WELL CARVED BUT GOOD QUALITY ITEMS ARE BEING MADE ALSO. IT IS POSSIBLE TO HAVE CUSTOM ORDERS MADE AS THERE ARE SKILLED CARVERS FULLY CAPABLE OF MAKING GOOD REPLICAS. I HAVE PICTURES OF WHAT IS CURRENTLY FOR SALE FROM THE SHOP WITH THE BEST CARVINGS THAT I SAW IN RARATONGA. SOME PICTURES OF ITEMS AT THE QUEENS MUSEUM AND AT THE RARATONGA MUSEUM.
PICTURES #1. THRU #8 ARE OF THE SHOP NEAR THE POLICE STATION ONE SHOWS THE DOOR AND A LARGE TIKI, TWO PICTURES ARE OF A VERY LARGE CEREMONIAL CLUB OR PADDLE MADE FOR DISPLAY. THE OTHERS SHOW OTHER ITEMS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE THAT ARE MADE IN THE COOK ISLANDS.
#9., #10. & #11. CLUBS IN MUSEUM RARATONGA MOST LIKELY REPLICAS BUT PERHAPS OLD.?
#12. REPLICA WEAPONS PRESENTED TO THE QUEEN AT THE QUEENS MUSEUM.

27th December 2014, 02:48 PM	#1
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,224	ref. link: Poo Rapa thread with a few more pics. POO RAPA short club, attributed to Rarotonga, Cook islands: looks like a traditional form as in the posts above. does not appear to be very old. listed as 'vintage' circa mid 20th c. 13.75 in long 5.5 in. across the blade 5/8in. thick. hardwood. it weighs 260 grams (0.57 lb or 9.17 oz.) the serrated 'edge' is sharp all the way around. there is some very slight wear on the short edge, leading me to think it has been used, and that it is used like an axe, and by thrusting like a maori patu. there is a very small chip off the rounded exterior 'corner' of the short edge. the grip is not uncomfortable, the serrations add to keeping a secure grip. not sure if it would remain comfortable with sustained use, but i doubt a combat with it would last long, win or lose. there are parallel scratches transverse and longitudinal that appear to be from sanding with, er...sand. it has an lightly varnished but matt surface. could be an oil finish. the holes are all the same, about 1/8 in. & look like they are from a modern twist drill. one hole had a small seed husk in it, but no seed. overall, some slight dings from handling. the coconut fibre hanging loop is braided & looks old. it has a much thinner tan cotton loop added that appears to have once been attached to a, sadly now missing, label tag that may have had more info. Attached Images Last edited by kronckew; 27th December 2014 at 03:12 PM.

27th December 2014, 07:06 PM	#2
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	VERY WELL DONE. THANKS

20th January 2015, 04:34 PM	#3
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,224	Found another photo of one on the interweb. it had fibres at the top thru the two holes then wrapped into one short brush/wisk. Attached Images

2nd May 2015, 05:07 AM	#4
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	A FEW MORE COOK ISLAND EXAMPLES. MOST PICTURES ARE FROM THE OLDMAN CATALOGS. HE SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN THE TOP COLLECTOR OF ITEMS FROM THE COOK ISLANDS. #1. A RARE COOK ISLAND PADDLE, SPEAR, CLUB NOTE THE SPIKE AT THE TIP.(402) #2. ANOTHER FORM OF CLUB WITH A QUADRANGULAR POINT MAY BE TONGAN OR COOK ISLANDS. (506) #3.A PICTURE SHOWING VARIOUS COOK ISLAND CLUB BUTTS AND THE VARIATIONS OF THE EYE CARVINGS BELOW THE BLADE. #4. COOK ISLAND POLE SPEARS ONE WITH A SEA TURTLE DESIGN REPEATED IN THE CENTER OF THE BLADE. 133.5 INCHES LONG #5., #6. #7. & #8. COOK ISLAND CLUBS #9. RARATONGA WARRIOR COOK ISLANDS #10. COOK ISLAND ITEMS,CLUBS AND CEREMONIAL PADDLES, CLUB #1 IN THE GROUP #11. ATUI ISLAND CLUB, COOK ISLANDS #12. COOK ISLANDS, MANGELA IS. NATIVE 1796 Attached Images Last edited by VANDOO; 2nd May 2015 at 09:11 PM.

4th May 2015, 07:53 PM	#5
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	#1. A GRAPH ABOUT COOK ISLAND ARTEFACTS Attached Images

29th December 2015, 03:46 PM	#6
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	TWO MORE PICTURES OF COOK ISLAND CLUBS Attached Images

1st June 2016, 06:23 PM	#7
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	I WAS RECENTLY IN RARATONGA AND HAD THE PLEASURE OF MEETING PEOPLE AND SEEING SOME RECENT WORK BEING DONE AS WELL AS SEEING ITEMS IN THE MUSEUMS. MOST CARVINGS ARE FOR TOURISTS AND NOT VERY WELL CARVED BUT GOOD QUALITY ITEMS ARE BEING MADE ALSO. IT IS POSSIBLE TO HAVE CUSTOM ORDERS MADE AS THERE ARE SKILLED CARVERS FULLY CAPABLE OF MAKING GOOD REPLICAS. I HAVE PICTURES OF WHAT IS CURRENTLY FOR SALE FROM THE SHOP WITH THE BEST CARVINGS THAT I SAW IN RARATONGA. SOME PICTURES OF ITEMS AT THE QUEENS MUSEUM AND AT THE RARATONGA MUSEUM. PICTURES #1. THRU #8 ARE OF THE SHOP NEAR THE POLICE STATION ONE SHOWS THE DOOR AND A LARGE TIKI, TWO PICTURES ARE OF A VERY LARGE CEREMONIAL CLUB OR PADDLE MADE FOR DISPLAY. THE OTHERS SHOW OTHER ITEMS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE THAT ARE MADE IN THE COOK ISLANDS. #9., #10. & #11. CLUBS IN MUSEUM RARATONGA MOST LIKELY REPLICAS BUT PERHAPS OLD.? #12. REPLICA WEAPONS PRESENTED TO THE QUEEN AT THE QUEENS MUSEUM. Attached Images Last edited by VANDOO; 1st June 2016 at 06:37 PM.