Club
Curved and spurred gata club, vivia gata vividrasa.
These are heavy, two handed clubs developed to be a very effective offensive and defensive weapon. The spur is designed to parry attacking blows, while the heavy wedge shaped head is designed to maximise the force placed on a small area. In many cases saplings were grown into the right shape, increasing the strength of the club and decreasing the necessary woodwork. Gata means snake, associated with meanings of divinity, supernatural power and danger. Vividrasa indicates a coconut-fibre binding, of which 50% remains. Such tricolour striped sleeves of coir replicate the appearance of the highly venomous and revered banded sea krait. Pandanus strips have been overlaid on the butt to secure the binding.
These are heavy, two handed clubs developed to be a very effective offensive and defensive weapon. The spur is designed to parry attacking blows, while the heavy wedge shaped head is designed to maximise the force placed on a small area. In many cases saplings were grown into the right shape, increasing the strength of the club and decreasing the necessary woodwork. Gata means snake, associated with meanings of divinity, supernatural power and danger. Vividrasa indicates a coconut-fibre binding, of which 50% remains. Such tricolour striped sleeves of coir replicate the appearance of the highly venomous and revered banded sea krait. Pandanus strips have been overlaid on the butt to secure the binding.
Object Summary
- Accession Loan No.
- 38/1923/3
- Category
- Ethnography
- Collection Class
- Arms and armour
- Collection Area Region
- POLYN
- Material
- woodfibre
- Common Name
- club
- Simple Name
- club
- Production Country
- Fiji
- Production Date
- 19th century
- Production Year Low
- 1870
- Production Year High
- 1875
