Rare leaf-shaped club ·  Vanuatu - Pentecost Island · ID: 3051971

Description

hardwood, reddish brown patina, human hair,

A beautiful club with a particularly striking and unique shape, which, according to Felix Speiser, was only found on Pentecost Island (Speiser, Ethnology of Vanuatu, An Early Twentieth Century Study, Honolulu, 1996, p. 207).

The club was carved from a single piece of hardwood into an elegant elongated leaf form. The conical-shaped butt is wrapped with a human hair string undoubtedly so your hand won’t slip when sweaty (Oceanic Arts Australia).

The object Rare leaf-shaped club with the object ID 3051971 was part of the auction Auction 104 on April 12, 2025. The object with the lot number 181 achieved a sales price of EUR 2,400 with an asking price of EUR 2,000.

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Comparing literature

Hooper, Steven (ed.), Power and Prestige. The Art of Clubs in Oceania, Exhibition catalogue, Venice 2021, p. 230 f.