Oceania, Solomon Islands, Malaita province, ca. 20th century CE. A tall wooden club, painted black with incised details filled with white, clay-like pigment in a thin line just above the handle and at the end of the club, forming a high abstract human face. The face is created by a T-shape forming a long nose and large eyebrows. Headhunting had religious importance in the central Solomons, and the custom of preserving heads as trophies was common. The principle weapons used were spears, bows and arrows, and clubs like this one. In Malaita and Ulawa, clubs were long, like this example, whereas elsewhere they were more paddle-shaped. Size: 1.65" W x 37" H (4.2 cm x 94 cm); 38" H (96.5 cm) on included custom stand.

Provenance: private Newport Beach, California, USA collection

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#133467

Small nicks and chips commensurate with age. Very nice remaining pigment with some light encrustation in lower profile areas at the top of the club.