War club "nifo’oti" · Samoa · ID: 3045257
sold
EUR 450
Provenance
Lemaire, Amsterdam, The Netherlands (1988)Holger Hofmann, Hamburg, Germany
Size
L: 92,5 cm
L: 36.4 inch
Description
heavy wood, rep.
This prominent club with rows of teeth down the attacking edge is unique to Samoa and is considered the “national weapon”.
The club has suffered the loss of some teeth. These tended to break in combat and was proudly seen as a sign of courage and action in former times.
The prominent hook-shaped projection reminds of the billhooks of early nineteenth century English and American whalers.