Massue "u'u" ·  Îles Marquises · 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.

L’objet Massue “u’u” avec l’ID d’objet 3051384 a fait partie de la vente aux enchères Vente aux enchères 103 dans 16 novembre 2024. L’objet portant le numéro de lot 70 a atteint un prix de vente de 24 000 € pour un prix d’adjudication de 20 000 €.

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Littérature comparée

Conru, Kevin (ed.), Polynesian Art, Brussels 2023, p. 170 ff. Kaeppler, Adrienne, Polynesia, Honolulu 2010, p. 297, ill. 317 f.

Exposition

Schwaz, Austria, Haus der Völker: "Südsee - Schätze der dunklen Inseln", 15. Mai 2005 - 18. September 2005