Club "u'u" · Marquesas Islands · ID: 3051384
Description
iron wood (Casuarina equisetifolia) - called ’toa',
The ornamental decoration on the two-faced ‘u’u’ clubs varies. However, they all have the three mask faces in common on each side, forming the eyes and nose.
These massive heavy clubs were used for both fighting and prestige displays, and in some cases were kept as trophies of victorious encounters. As valuable heirlooms, they were passed down in the family.
Carved by specialists, the clubs were comissioned at a high cost. Once completed, they were finely sanded with sharkskin and placed in the mud of a taro patch for curing and blackening. Afterwards the club was regularly rubbed and polished with scented coconut oil, wich produced a lacquer-like finish.
The object Club “u’u” with the object ID 3051384 was part of the auction Auction 103 on November 16, 2024. The object with the lot number 70 achieved a sales price of EUR 24,000 with an asking price of EUR 20,000.
Here you will find more objects and interesting facts about Oceanian art.
Comparing literature
Conru, Kevin (ed.), Polynesian Art, Brussels 2023, p. 170 ff. Kaeppler, Adrienne, Polynesia, Honolulu 2010, p. 297, ill. 317 f.
Exhibition
Schwaz, Austria, Haus der Völker: "Südsee - Schätze der dunklen Inseln", 15. Mai 2005 - 18. September 2005