3 Dance Clubs/Wands, Napa, Santa Cruz, Solomon Islands, Early 20th C. The napa dance was performed in the Santa Cruz Islands by rows of adult men during a coming of age ceremony for young men. The clubs are struck against one another, leaving many with longitudinal cracks and other damage in witness to their traditional use. Two of the three wands have breaks in the handles. Napa wands form a squared-sided, stylized canoe form, typically with two raised triangular elements representing faces on the top surface, and are heavily decorated with "ink" drawings of abstracted flora and fauna. The top example here shows light surface decoration, good traditional use including the broken handle. The center example has a thicker body covered with the traditional elegant designs in red and black pigment. The density of the wand’s wood is evidenced by the nature of the break in this handle. The lower example is shorter and more slender and is abundantly covered with the traditional napa ceremony designs. It has a darkened patina from age. From the collection of Joseph Salamanca. Size: Ranging from: 23'' x 1.75'' x 2'' (58 x 4 x 5 cm) to 27'' x 2.75'' x 3'' (69 x 7 x 8 cm).

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