Decorative

A RARE 19TH CENTURY ANTIQUE FIJIAN ULA ...

A rare and well-preserved example of 1800 from Fiji, early 1800's, noted for its craftsmanship, material quality, and historical relevance.

A Rare early 19th Century Antique Fijian Ula Drisia South Seas Island Warrior's Club. A Superbly patinated root ball throwing - club with geometrically carved handle. Head of Burl or Rootwood, Shaft snugly socketed into the base of head. The grip is incised in a typically Fijian zig-zag pattern. Throwing clubs for human targets were only found in Fiji and take several forms ranging from types resembling short Woodstock clubs to lobed throwing clubs. They could be used in three main ways, either thrown in high arcing volleys (as a substitute for bows and arrows), thrown at point blank range to kill a man outright (commonly used by Fijian assassins) or to deliver the final blow to an otherwise incapacitated man. Men became very attached to their throwing clubs and often wore a pair tucked into their waist sash, pistol fashion. After the death of their owner, many were wrapped in barkcloth with atabua wha...lebone, smeared in turmeric and kept inside a basket in the temple. A museum quality piece rare to find.

— Details

Reference

SA1161640

Origin

Fiji, early 1800's

Period

1800

Dimensions

H 41cm

Rarity

Rare

Provenance

Brought back from Australia by boat from the owners family circa 1880's

Condition

Excellent — see description