Club
ClassificationsArms and Armor-clubs
Datemid 19th - early 20th Century
Made AtPenama Province, Vanuatu
Collection SiteSydney, New South Wales, Australia, Australia
MediumWood, hair and pigment
Dimensions42 1/2 × 3 × 2 1/2 in. (108 × 7.6 × 6.4 cm)
Credit LineThe George Stanley Lodin Collection
Object number2015.17.68
DescriptionIn contrast to Vanuatu’s fatal hardwood clubs, this club was intentionally made to be lightweight. Its purpose was to parry oncoming arrows. The conical point at the top of the club was strategically crafted to suit this purpose and the club’s wielder used great skill to divert such oncoming arrows. The braided hair at the bottom of the club is human. Coconut fiber was also used, but with much less frequency than hair. This type of club is noted to be decorated with two narrow grooves that are painted red. This piece features more than two grooves, all of which are painted or bear the remnants of pigment. Clubs of this type are attributed to both the northern and southern portions of Pentecost Island. A similar type of club from this island is almost identical in form. While the bottom of the club head also flares out, it has spiked rather than rounded edges.On View
Not on view
early to mid 20th Century
early to mid 20th Century
19th Century
20th Century
1871-1879
early to mid 20th Century
late 20th Century
20th Century
