A Polynesian hardwood Ula tavatava or throwing war club
Fiji, probably 18th century
All-over decorated in incised pattern, the bulbous top seems to have a stone grown into it.
H. 42 cm
Including museum-quality powder-coated stand.
Provenance:
Private collection, France
Polynesian culture is traditionally a culture of power and prestige, and there was a fine line between battle and ceremony. Warrior people par excellence, the Fijians had at their disposal a large panoply of weapons, each for a specific use.
The elegant Gata are called gun-sticks by Europeans due to the recognizable form. However, they are designed after a snake, gata in Fijian language. The Ula throwing clubs...
Category
18th Century Antique Fijian Furniture