Oceania, Polynesia, Fiji Islands, ca. 19th century CE. An attractive example of a hand-carved wooden throwing club known in Fiji as an I Ula Tavatava. The club has a bulbous head with several protruding knobs encircling a hemispherical finial on top that were capable of inflicting large amounts of damage. The slender handle is covered in incised registers of zigzagging and bar-shaped motifs that were perhaps carved by the warrior who wielded it. The I Ula Tavatava is regarded as one of the most important weapons in Fijian history as they were created during a time of rampant warfare. Throwing clubs like this example were carved as personal weapons that were oftentimes carried on a man's belt. Size: 3.4" W x 13.7" H (8.6 cm x 34.8 cm); 14.9" H (37.8 cm) on included custom stand.

For a strikingly similar example, please see The Auckland Museum (Tamaki Paenga Hira), accession number 1935.168

For a stylistically similar example, please see The Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 1979.206.1389

Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection; ex-Abe Rosman collection, New York, New York, USA, acquired between 1960 and 2000

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#154563

One large fissure to knobbed head, with a few smaller stable hairline fissures on the opposite side. Minor abrasions, light encrustations within some recessed areas, and minor softening to some incised handle details, otherwise intact and excellent. Light earthen deposits and wonderful patina throughout.