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Ceremonial War Club with Human Hair Wrapping, 19th Century
Pentecost Island, Vanuatu, Melanesi…
Club
Ceremonial War Club with Human Hair Wrapping, 19th Century
Pentecost Island, Vanuatu, Melanesi…
Ceremonial War Club with Human Hair Wrapping, 19th Century Pentecost Island, Vanuatu, Melanesia Wood and human hair; 43 3/4 × 1 15/16 × 15/16 in. 97.121.1 Gift of Edward M. Smith

Club

ClassificationsArms and Armor-clubs
Date19th Century
Made AtVanuatu
MediumWood and human hair
Dimensions43 3/4 × 1 15/16 × 15/16 in. (111.1 × 4.9 × 2.4 cm)
Credit LineGift of Edward M. Smith
Object number97.121.1
DescriptionThis wooden club comes from Pentecost Island in Vanuatu. War clubs were very common in the islands that made up Melanesia including Vanuatu and New Guinea. Primarily used in combat during tribal conflicts, the use of heavy wood and often stone attached to the end made the clubs highly effective. The war clubs were sometimes used in an agricultural role. And in addition symbolic war clubs were often created for the sole purpose of being placed beside a deceased warrior as they prepared for the journey into the afterworld.
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