Club "afui" or "alafolo" · Solomon Islands - Malaita · ID: 3036607
Description
wood, shiny black patina, white lime or ground powder from a white stone called “foulafu”, round handle, the blade lense-shaped in cross-section, the top with ridge to each side below panels of incised ornaments, slightly dam., fine fissures, metal base;
the nose-shaped ridges “ako’akona” give the clubs the appearance of a highly stylized face, according they are recognized as “anthropomorphic” clubs. They are used in battle, an enemy is struck “with the edges of the club not the noses”.
The object Club “afui” or “alafolo” with the object ID 3036607 was last part of the auction 76th tribal art auction at March 22, 2014 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 64.
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Comparing literature
Conru, Kevin, Solomon Islands Art, Milan 2008, ill. 65