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LOT 2380
Vunikau War Throwing Club
FIJI, 19TH CENTURY A.D.
13 1/2 in. (391 grams, 34.2 cm).
A natural root club with a good patina of age and wear; hide thong for suspension. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceFrom Fiji, South Pacific.
From an old Northern Ireland collection.
From the property of a late Lincolnshire, UK, gentleman.
See R. A. Derrick, Notes on Fijian Clubs (With a System of Classification) in The Journal of the Polynesian Society Vol. 66, No. 4 (December 1957), pp. 391-395.
Footnotes“The club was the Fijian warrior's favourite weapon. He had his spears, from ten to fifteen feet long and often richly carved, efficient bows and arrows, and slings for throwing stones; but, although these had each its special use, none approached the club in popularity.” R. A. Derrick, “Notes on Fijian Clubs, (With a System of Classification)”.
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