An Unusual Polynesian Fighting Club

Period: Early 19th century

Medium: Wood

Dimension: 77.5 cm (30¹/₂ inches)

Provenance: Ex Private English collection

Literature: It was the simple iron nail which, came into the hands of Tongan craftsmen by trade with Cooks ships in 1773 that brought about a remarkable change in the surface decoration of the traditional clubs. Instead of the partial engraving normally employed, post contact clubs had much more elaborate decoration and were sometimes inlaid. By the end of the 18th century European tools had thus begun to supersede the traditional ones made of stone, bone or shark's teeth.