Solomon Islands club opinions?

manteris1 · 9th March 2014, 05:38 PM

Nice Tim, how long is it, could you give us photo on the butt ..................jimmy

VANDOO · 9th March 2014, 07:30 PM

A VERY NICE EXAMPLE AND IT DOES SHOW SOME AGE. THE ONES I HAVE SEEN ARE USUALLY ATTRIBUTED TO RENELL ISLAND IN THE SOLOMONS. ALL OF THEM I HAVE SEEN HAVE BEEN SHORT CLUBS USUALLY AROUND 15 INCHES GIVE OR TAKE. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS AN ANCIENT FORM OR POST WW2 OR IF IT IS CEREMONIAL IN NATURE OR FOR WAR USE. I THINK THE BLADED HEAD IS A MORE MODERN FORM AND THUS CEREMONIAL BUT THATS JUST MY OPINION NOT SOMETHING BASED ON RESEARCH. NO MATTER A VERY ATTRACTIVE FORM EVERYONE WHO LIKES CLUBS SHOULD HAVE ONE.

RECENT MADE ONES SHOW UP ON EBAY SO I THINK THEY ARE STILL BEING MADE FOR THOSE WHO TRAVEL. YOUR EXAMPLE IS OLDER THAN WHAT I USUALLY SEE. A FEW EXAMPLES OF SIMULAR FORMS OF SHORT CLUBS FROM THE AREA.
#1. A 11 IN. RENNEL ISLAND CLUB OLD FORM
#2. 36 CM. L. SAID TO BE 1930'S
#3. 44 CM. l. MILNE BAY AREA
#4. RENNEL. IS. SOLOMON IS. RECENT MANUFACTURE
#5. #6, #7, 45 CM. SOLOMON IS.
#8. SOLOMON IS. WW2
#9. SOLOMON IS.

Tim Simmons · 10th March 2014, 09:58 AM

Thank you, it is rather eye catching. I have to wait for arrival. In the meantime I have made a rough picture percentage size difference with one I already have, 47cm long and 37cm long. Although shorter, the new one is more chunky and about the same weight 1kg+ I could believe them both to be from around the first quarter of the 20th century. If items are well curated they could be possibly be earlier. When I have it I shall continue with more follow up information.

Tim Simmons · 17th March 2014, 07:24 PM

It is here and I have to say it is quite nice. It has excellent balance in the hand. Much better than the larger item in the earlier thread, which is 130 g heavier being 1.092 kg
It has good age but some damage to the grip which is a real shame. If one was of a mind too, this could be sorted in some way. I am adding some information only snippets but enlightening. The figure carvings are added to show contrast between the new and traditional styles. The postcard is circa 1910. Headhunting ended around 1900. The decline in value of traditional culture meant some decline in artworks and the development of others. No long relevant much traditional artwork, along with new tourist market productions was sold to help fund missions and other projects. All these pictures {basic I know but lets keep it simple} have come from " Melanesia Art and encounter, the British museum" The black and white diagram relates to the axe in the afore mentioned publication and my new club. Also the picture of a chief, perhaps small Solomon clubs are not all made for suitcases.

Tim Simmons · 17th March 2014, 08:29 PM

The postcard is just like any English village, Anglican Church, table top sale.

VANDOO · 19th March 2014, 05:10 AM

I WISH THERE WERE TABLE TOP SALES LIKE THAT AROUND HERE.

TWO VERY NICE EXAMPLES OF THE FORM. CONGRADULATIONS. I RESIZED A PICTURE OF THE CLUB TOP WITH INLAY OF A CLUB PICTURED PREVIOUSLY IT LOOKS A LOT LIKE YOUR LARGER EXAMPLE.

Pinocchio · 11th April 2017, 05:49 AM

Dear Tim,

Could you tell me the references of the book where you got this old curios picture of the Solomon Islands ?

Thank you

Francois Gastine

Tim Simmons · 12th April 2017, 10:51 AM

This is the book. isbn 978-0-7141-2596-1. You can probably get from British Museum online book shop. It is well worth having is you are interested in the Melanesia Islands.

Tim Simmons · 16th April 2017, 07:50 AM

With regards to the artefacts on the table top sale post card. Although missions were founded in the late 19th century, evangelism did not really take off until the first decade of the 20th century. In converted zeal much traditional artefacts no longer held any value or spiritual power so were discarded in many ways and almost in total. Now the situation has changed to one of regret and a degree of blame, but that should cut both ways. The same thing as with the Asmat of Papua. Even up to the 1960s traditional powerful artefacts could be collected with ease buy travellers.

9th March 2014, 05:38 PM	#1
manteris1 Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 114	Nice Tim, how long is it, could you give us photo on the butt ..................jimmy

9th March 2014, 07:30 PM	#2
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	A VERY NICE EXAMPLE AND IT DOES SHOW SOME AGE. THE ONES I HAVE SEEN ARE USUALLY ATTRIBUTED TO RENELL ISLAND IN THE SOLOMONS. ALL OF THEM I HAVE SEEN HAVE BEEN SHORT CLUBS USUALLY AROUND 15 INCHES GIVE OR TAKE. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS AN ANCIENT FORM OR POST WW2 OR IF IT IS CEREMONIAL IN NATURE OR FOR WAR USE. I THINK THE BLADED HEAD IS A MORE MODERN FORM AND THUS CEREMONIAL BUT THATS JUST MY OPINION NOT SOMETHING BASED ON RESEARCH. NO MATTER A VERY ATTRACTIVE FORM EVERYONE WHO LIKES CLUBS SHOULD HAVE ONE. RECENT MADE ONES SHOW UP ON EBAY SO I THINK THEY ARE STILL BEING MADE FOR THOSE WHO TRAVEL. YOUR EXAMPLE IS OLDER THAN WHAT I USUALLY SEE. A FEW EXAMPLES OF SIMULAR FORMS OF SHORT CLUBS FROM THE AREA. #1. A 11 IN. RENNEL ISLAND CLUB OLD FORM #2. 36 CM. L. SAID TO BE 1930'S #3. 44 CM. l. MILNE BAY AREA #4. RENNEL. IS. SOLOMON IS. RECENT MANUFACTURE #5. #6, #7, 45 CM. SOLOMON IS. #8. SOLOMON IS. WW2 #9. SOLOMON IS. Attached Images Last edited by VANDOO; 10th March 2014 at 06:49 PM.

10th March 2014, 09:58 AM	#3
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,742	Thank you, it is rather eye catching. I have to wait for arrival. In the meantime I have made a rough picture percentage size difference with one I already have, 47cm long and 37cm long. Although shorter, the new one is more chunky and about the same weight 1kg+ I could believe them both to be from around the first quarter of the 20th century. If items are well curated they could be possibly be earlier. When I have it I shall continue with more follow up information. Attached Images

17th March 2014, 07:24 PM	#4
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,742	It is here and I have to say it is quite nice. It has excellent balance in the hand. Much better than the larger item in the earlier thread, which is 130 g heavier being 1.092 kg It has good age but some damage to the grip which is a real shame. If one was of a mind too, this could be sorted in some way. I am adding some information only snippets but enlightening. The figure carvings are added to show contrast between the new and traditional styles. The postcard is circa 1910. Headhunting ended around 1900. The decline in value of traditional culture meant some decline in artworks and the development of others. No long relevant much traditional artwork, along with new tourist market productions was sold to help fund missions and other projects. All these pictures {basic I know but lets keep it simple} have come from " Melanesia Art and encounter, the British museum" The black and white diagram relates to the axe in the afore mentioned publication and my new club. Also the picture of a chief, perhaps small Solomon clubs are not all made for suitcases. Attached Images Last edited by Tim Simmons; 17th March 2014 at 07:47 PM.

17th March 2014, 08:29 PM	#5
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,742	The postcard is just like any English village, Anglican Church, table top sale.

19th March 2014, 05:10 AM	#6
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	I WISH THERE WERE TABLE TOP SALES LIKE THAT AROUND HERE. TWO VERY NICE EXAMPLES OF THE FORM. CONGRADULATIONS. I RESIZED A PICTURE OF THE CLUB TOP WITH INLAY OF A CLUB PICTURED PREVIOUSLY IT LOOKS A LOT LIKE YOUR LARGER EXAMPLE. Attached Images

11th April 2017, 05:49 AM	#7
Pinocchio Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Posts: 12	book references Dear Tim, Could you tell me the references of the book where you got this old curios picture of the Solomon Islands ? Thank you Francois Gastine

12th April 2017, 10:51 AM	#8
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,742	This is the book. isbn 978-0-7141-2596-1. You can probably get from British Museum online book shop. It is well worth having is you are interested in the Melanesia Islands. Attached Images

16th April 2017, 07:50 AM	#9
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,742	With regards to the artefacts on the table top sale post card. Although missions were founded in the late 19th century, evangelism did not really take off until the first decade of the 20th century. In converted zeal much traditional artefacts no longer held any value or spiritual power so were discarded in many ways and almost in total. Now the situation has changed to one of regret and a degree of blame, but that should cut both ways. The same thing as with the Asmat of Papua. Even up to the 1960s traditional powerful artefacts could be collected with ease buy travellers. Last edited by Tim Simmons; 16th April 2017 at 10:00 AM.