Club (Vunikau)
ClassificationsArms and Armor-clubs
Datemid 19th Century
Made AtFiji
MediumWood
Dimensions46 × 3 1/2 × 3 3/8 in. (116.8 × 8.9 × 8.6 cm)
Credit LineBowers Museum Purchase
Object number2020.5.1
DescriptionWarfare was a constant feature throughout Fijian history, even into the 19th century. As weapons intended to break bones, clubs filled an equally important symbolic role as items of immense power in Fiji. Root clubs tended to be made from the root and shaft of ironwood trees, a catchall term for several extremely dense woods. For this club the roots are trimmed down to create nubbins. The density of this root head would have made it extremely deadly in combat. The most ornate of these clubs were also inlaid with ivory, but we can see its hilt there may have been something around it that has since been removed.On View
On viewCollections
18th to 19th Century
early to mid 20th Century
early to mid 19th Century
18th - 19th Century
19th Century
1860-1904
20th Century
18th to 19th Century
19th Century
Early 20th Century
