A kitchen implement, or Fijian ula?

shayde78 · 3rd August 2017, 06:54 PM

Hi all,

As always, any feedback is appreciated. I picked up this wooden club(?) from an auction. I did some research and found that it could be anything from a potato masher, butter churner, or a throwing club (Ula) from Fiji.

What are your opinions. Does this go with my Maori patu, or next to the blender in my kitchen? If an ula, what more can you tell me about this example.

Thanks much!

Oh, for scale, the tiles upon which the item is displayed are 1'x1'.

Helleri · 3rd August 2017, 07:16 PM

I think that the features of the overall shape lends it better towards being a weapon...

The butt of the shaft flares and is carved for grip. What would one be attacking in a kitchen that would need so much force as to require such sound purchase?

The shaft swells just under the head. A feature to have if the maker expects that it may not strike true all of the time and so needs some more girth to avoid being broken. Something a user wouldn't have to worry about if tenderizing meat over a counter top. But something the wielder would be concerned with if swinging at a moving target.

The head is also a lot larger than it would need to be in order to be an effective reamer, muddler, or tenderizer. And it's node on the top would be more useful in jabbing at the eyes, solar plexus or throat than it would be for cracking a nut or mashing herbs.

The whole of it is far larger than it would need to be to be an effective kitchen implement as well.

There are also things missing that I might expect on a kitchen tool. Such as a hole in the handle for hanging on a nail or even a lanyard. No obvious staining or impeded bits of food (like grain or nut shell) from repetitive use for a singular task. No burn marks from having been set too close to a cooking fire. Of course one wouldn't find all or necessarily any of these things on a wooden kitchen tool. But there is a high likely hood that one would if it was.

The total absence of features or wear that would indicate use in a kitchen environment in conjunction with distinctly weapon-like features really makes me think that it's a club. I'm no expert on wooden weapons. But this screams weapon to me.

kai · 3rd August 2017, 07:28 PM

It does look like an ula; I don't think it has a lot of age though...

Regards,
Kai

colin henshaw · 3rd August 2017, 08:15 PM

Kai is correct, its a Fijian ula but a relatively modern reproduction.

Sajen · 3rd August 2017, 08:55 PM

Agree with Kai and Colin!

shayde78 · 6th August 2017, 06:33 PM

Thank you all for the feedback. It is much appreciated.

Other than the lack of age on the wood, are there other cues suggesting modern make? I feel the carving on the head seems too regular...too symmetrical to have been carved very long ago. Is this a correct appraisal, or do older pieces have such well rendered carving?

3rd August 2017, 06:54 PM	#1
shayde78 Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Posts: 443	A kitchen implement, or Fijian ula? Hi all, As always, any feedback is appreciated. I picked up this wooden club(?) from an auction. I did some research and found that it could be anything from a potato masher, butter churner, or a throwing club (Ula) from Fiji. What are your opinions. Does this go with my Maori patu, or next to the blender in my kitchen? If an ula, what more can you tell me about this example. Thanks much! Oh, for scale, the tiles upon which the item is displayed are 1'x1'. Attached Images

3rd August 2017, 07:16 PM	#2
Helleri Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Boulder Creek, CA. Posts: 202	I think that the features of the overall shape lends it better towards being a weapon... The butt of the shaft flares and is carved for grip. What would one be attacking in a kitchen that would need so much force as to require such sound purchase? The shaft swells just under the head. A feature to have if the maker expects that it may not strike true all of the time and so needs some more girth to avoid being broken. Something a user wouldn't have to worry about if tenderizing meat over a counter top. But something the wielder would be concerned with if swinging at a moving target. The head is also a lot larger than it would need to be in order to be an effective reamer, muddler, or tenderizer. And it's node on the top would be more useful in jabbing at the eyes, solar plexus or throat than it would be for cracking a nut or mashing herbs. The whole of it is far larger than it would need to be to be an effective kitchen implement as well. There are also things missing that I might expect on a kitchen tool. Such as a hole in the handle for hanging on a nail or even a lanyard. No obvious staining or impeded bits of food (like grain or nut shell) from repetitive use for a singular task. No burn marks from having been set too close to a cooking fire. Of course one wouldn't find all or necessarily any of these things on a wooden kitchen tool. But there is a high likely hood that one would if it was. The total absence of features or wear that would indicate use in a kitchen environment in conjunction with distinctly weapon-like features really makes me think that it's a club. I'm no expert on wooden weapons. But this screams weapon to me. Last edited by Helleri; 3rd August 2017 at 07:31 PM.

3rd August 2017, 07:28 PM	#3
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,215	It does look like an ula; I don't think it has a lot of age though... Regards, Kai

3rd August 2017, 08:15 PM	#4
colin henshaw Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,430	Kai is correct, its a Fijian ula but a relatively modern reproduction.

3rd August 2017, 08:55 PM	#5
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,467	Agree with Kai and Colin!

6th August 2017, 06:33 PM	#6
shayde78 Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Posts: 443	Thank you all for the feedback. It is much appreciated. Other than the lack of age on the wood, are there other cues suggesting modern make? I feel the carving on the head seems too regular...too symmetrical to have been carved very long ago. Is this a correct appraisal, or do older pieces have such well rendered carving?