Club (U'u)

ClassificationsArms and Armor-clubs

Date19th Century

Made AtFrench Polynesia, France

MediumWood

Dimensions41 3/8 × 4 1/2 × 4 in. (105.1 × 11.4 × 10.2 cm)

Credit LineGift of Dr. Ronald W. Jue and Naomi Jue

Object number93.63.26

DescriptionThis long ceremonial war club comes from the Marquesas Islands. The u’u club is the most well-known of Marquesan warrior clubs. The top is saddle shaped to fit under the arm of the owner when not in use. The intricate low-relief and patterned design carved on this club is typical of the Marquesas Islands. The protective faces carved and designed into the club were meant to offer protection to the warrior. It is widely believed that the intricately patterned designs of Marquesan art directly relate to the tattoos that covered the bodies of both men and women.

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