Big Samoan Povai Club

Tim Simmons · 13th November 2011, 10:57 AM

Went mad and got this very nice club. 1.850kg so hard to stop once moving, smash bones. 119cm long. Nice patina, beautifully carved but you need it in your hand to feel that. Made me do some digging and found picture of Samoan Civil war, pictures in the PDF link. Which I am sure we will all enjoy viewing.

http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/pdf/OPAC/264952.pdf

Also a link to a NZ museum with info on square Povai clubs.

http://www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/te...d13-d1-d3.html

Iain · 13th November 2011, 11:55 AM

Congrats on a very nice item Tim. The PDF you liked was a fascinating read as well. Thanks for posting it!

Best,

Iain

VANDOO · 15th November 2011, 07:36 PM

CONGRADULATIONS A VERY NICE CLUB AND A TYPE I WAS NOT FAMILIAR WITH FROM SAMOA.

IT GOT ME INTERESTED TO SEE IF ANY OF THE FIJI CLUBS HAD FOUR SIDES. FERGUS CLUNIE SUGGESTED THE POLE CLUB OR BILLET LIKE FORM ORIGINATED IN TONGA AND IT WAS CALLED POVAI THERE.
THE FORM IS REFERRED TO IN FIJI AS BOWAI BUT I SUSPECT THE PRONUNCIATION IS VERY SIMULAR. IN CLUNIES BOOK NONE OF THE POLE CLUBS FROM FIJI HAD FOUR SIDES BUT WERE ROUND WITH VARIATIONS TO SIZE AND FORM SUCH AS DOMED OR FLAT STRIKING END AND STRAIGHT OR FLARED AT THE GRIP. IT WAS NOTED THAT SOME CLUBS WERE CALLED AFTER THE TYPE OF WOOD USED TO MAKE THEM. THE CLUBS WITH A FLARED HANDLE WERE REFERRED TO AS BOWAI AND THE ONES WITH STRAIGHT HANDLES AS GADI (WHICH IS A TYPE OF WOOD)

Lew · 15th November 2011, 10:45 PM

Tim

Nice pick up. Looks heavy...

13th November 2011, 10:57 AM	#1
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,736	Big Samoan Povai Club Went mad and got this very nice club. 1.850kg so hard to stop once moving, smash bones. 119cm long. Nice patina, beautifully carved but you need it in your hand to feel that. Made me do some digging and found picture of Samoan Civil war, pictures in the PDF link. Which I am sure we will all enjoy viewing. http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/pdf/OPAC/264952.pdf Also a link to a NZ museum with info on square Povai clubs. http://www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/te...d13-d1-d3.html Attached Images

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13th November 2011, 11:55 AM	#2
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,680	Congrats on a very nice item Tim. The PDF you liked was a fascinating read as well. Thanks for posting it! Best, Iain

15th November 2011, 07:36 PM	#3
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	CONGRADULATIONS A VERY NICE CLUB AND A TYPE I WAS NOT FAMILIAR WITH FROM SAMOA. IT GOT ME INTERESTED TO SEE IF ANY OF THE FIJI CLUBS HAD FOUR SIDES. FERGUS CLUNIE SUGGESTED THE POLE CLUB OR BILLET LIKE FORM ORIGINATED IN TONGA AND IT WAS CALLED POVAI THERE. THE FORM IS REFERRED TO IN FIJI AS BOWAI BUT I SUSPECT THE PRONUNCIATION IS VERY SIMULAR. IN CLUNIES BOOK NONE OF THE POLE CLUBS FROM FIJI HAD FOUR SIDES BUT WERE ROUND WITH VARIATIONS TO SIZE AND FORM SUCH AS DOMED OR FLAT STRIKING END AND STRAIGHT OR FLARED AT THE GRIP. IT WAS NOTED THAT SOME CLUBS WERE CALLED AFTER THE TYPE OF WOOD USED TO MAKE THEM. THE CLUBS WITH A FLARED HANDLE WERE REFERRED TO AS BOWAI AND THE ONES WITH STRAIGHT HANDLES AS GADI (WHICH IS A TYPE OF WOOD)

15th November 2011, 10:45 PM	#4
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Tim Nice pick up. Looks heavy...