18TH C. PRE-CONTACT STONE-CARVED TONGAN APA'APAI CLUB
Origin:
Period/Date: At least late 18th C., possibly older
Materials: very heavy and dense hardwood, Casuarina
Description: Its been a number of years since I've had one of these clubs. This is certainly the oldest and purest example we handled. It is presented on a custom bronze display base and is carved with non-metal tools! Two distinctive aspects of this club differentiate it from later designs of Samoan lapalapa clubs. For example, the lug does not reach the full width of the bottom of the handle (Phelps) and the section of this club is quite thin as opposed to far more wide and robust Samoan examples. This latter feature suggests that this presents a more definitive "cleaving edge", but it also requires more skilled carving, and a higher quality wood which results in a far more elegant sculptural form. Supporting evidence this club is non-metal carved is that there are plenty of shell scrape, adze and stone polishing marks throughout. Note the wide radius tooling cuts of the lug as well the inside radius cuts between the collars.
By anyone's standards this a pre-Cook (1770) piece: Kaeppler’s criteria are all to be found here. The collars are quite robust and profuse providing enormous presence when on display and when in hand. The patina is fine and of medium depth, silky smooth to the touch and overall the club is in excellent condition with a few minor old chips. An important weapon imbued with "mana".
Dimensions: Length: 42.5" (108 cm), Width 4 3/8" (11 cm)
Price: Request by Email
Reverse Side
