Ulas? Oceanic teaser

harvg · 4th November 2021, 04:00 AM

Hi, I have specifically been collecting Fijian artefacts for the last 20 years. Learned a few lessons the hard way along the way....ugh. The author of this threads ula, while does look to be Fijian with some age.....the inlays are most definitely not. They look to have been crudely placed into this club to try to increase it's value, unfortunate as the club itself seems to have some merit. The dead giveaway is the whiteness, whereas antique inlays are yellowish from age. Unfortunately, recent scammers are even using aged bone/ivory to implant into clubs, to make it even harder to tell the fakes from the real thing.
The other examples of clubs with inlays that were posted in this thread, were strictly made for the tourist industry, and as long as they were not portrayed as anything but that, they can be nice works of Fijian artistry to enjoy.

Harvey

Ian · 4th November 2021, 11:43 AM

Harvey,

Thanks greatly for your observations and words of caution. Always good to hear from an experienced collector in this field. Pacific island artifacts have become very fashionable and it is helpful to know how to tell the old from the new.

Ian.

Tim Simmons · 4th November 2021, 03:36 PM

I have already suggested that this may not be Fijian. I have never known MOP to change colour with age. Your opinion has been noted and as a fairly long time collector of oceanic material you must have seen it all and know all there is to know.

Tim Simmons · 7th November 2021, 06:58 PM

Wanting to explore the idea that the yellowing of MOP and the style of application is a strong or even good way for self experienced collectors to be sure of authenticating the age and origin of oceanic material. The use of MOP is used extensively through out western and eastern pacific islands. Here are two examples of material from Samoa sourced from the online data base of Berlin Ethnographic Museum 9270 items and that is just a sample.

Now to my piece, when seen next to this African horn and ivory baton. I no longer think, and fairly obviously so, it is not an Ulas from Fiji. It could be from many other Islands. Alas a similar item cannot be found in a publication, bibles for collectors . So the function is open to speculation. However bâton de commandement are a global phenomenon and are most often of the size shown, again speculation. Dance and other cultural activities also involve accoutrement. Dance sticks and wands are well documented. As so much in live the big boss does not carry a big stick that is for low classes. Anyway the pictures tell a thousand words.

Tim Simmons · 8th November 2021, 06:08 PM

Big man stick.

4th November 2021, 03:36 PM	#3
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,890	I have already suggested that this may not be Fijian. I have never known MOP to change colour with age. Your opinion has been noted and as a fairly long time collector of oceanic material you must have seen it all and know all there is to know. Attached Images Last edited by Tim Simmons; 4th November 2021 at 04:07 PM.

7th November 2021, 06:58 PM	#4
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,890	Wanting to explore the idea that the yellowing of MOP and the style of application is a strong or even good way for self experienced collectors to be sure of authenticating the age and origin of oceanic material. The use of MOP is used extensively through out western and eastern pacific islands. Here are two examples of material from Samoa sourced from the online data base of Berlin Ethnographic Museum 9270 items and that is just a sample. Now to my piece, when seen next to this African horn and ivory baton. I no longer think, and fairly obviously so, it is not an Ulas from Fiji. It could be from many other Islands. Alas a similar item cannot be found in a publication, bibles for collectors . So the function is open to speculation. However bâton de commandement are a global phenomenon and are most often of the size shown, again speculation. Dance and other cultural activities also involve accoutrement. Dance sticks and wands are well documented. As so much in live the big boss does not carry a big stick that is for low classes. Anyway the pictures tell a thousand words. Attached Images

8th November 2021, 06:08 PM	#5
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,890	Big man stick. Attached Images

4th November 2021, 04:00 AM	#1
harvg Member Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 6	Hi, I have specifically been collecting Fijian artefacts for the last 20 years. Learned a few lessons the hard way along the way....ugh. The author of this threads ula, while does look to be Fijian with some age.....the inlays are most definitely not. They look to have been crudely placed into this club to try to increase it's value, unfortunate as the club itself seems to have some merit. The dead giveaway is the whiteness, whereas antique inlays are yellowish from age. Unfortunately, recent scammers are even using aged bone/ivory to implant into clubs, to make it even harder to tell the fakes from the real thing. The other examples of clubs with inlays that were posted in this thread, were strictly made for the tourist industry, and as long as they were not portrayed as anything but that, they can be nice works of Fijian artistry to enjoy. Harvey

4th November 2021, 11:43 AM	#2
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,470	Harvey, Thanks greatly for your observations and words of caution. Always good to hear from an experienced collector in this field. Pacific island artifacts have become very fashionable and it is helpful to know how to tell the old from the new. Ian.