Club
Made from the tough toa wood (casuarina equisetifolia) these clubs were designed not only to be used in combat but also in social ceremonial dances. On one visit, Captain Cook personally observed men engaged in a competition club fight during a reception in Hapaee’.
Apa’apai clubs have a smoothly tapering, four-sided sectional shape and a square or concave end mimicking the shape of a coconut leaf midrib. The leaf midribs were cut by men of the cheifly class and used to maintain social order or for recreational club fencing. The club form is therefore chiefly and a symbol of legitimate authority.
Apa’apai clubs have a smoothly tapering, four-sided sectional shape and a square or concave end mimicking the shape of a coconut leaf midrib. The leaf midribs were cut by men of the cheifly class and used to maintain social order or for recreational club fencing. The club form is therefore chiefly and a symbol of legitimate authority.
Object Summary
- Accession Loan No.
- E1205
- Category
- Ethnography
- Collection Class
- Arms and armour
- Collection Area Region
- Polynesia
- Material
- wood (casuarina) | | | |
- Common Name
- club
- Simple Name
- club
- Production Town
- Production Country
- Tonga
- Production Date
- 18th century
- Production Person Initials
- Production Person Surname
- Production Year Low
- Production Year High
- pre 1778
