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1884.12.117

Paddle club, Culacula. The club has a raised strengthening bar horizontally across the bottom of the blade and serrated edges. [FB 20/02/2012]

1884.12.117

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Collection type
Object
Description
Paddle club, Culacula. The club has a raised strengthening bar horizontally across the bottom of the blade and serrated edges. [FB 20/02/2012]
Long description
Paddle club, Culacula. The club has a raised strengthening bar horizontally across the bottom of the blade. The blade is broad with serrated edges as the blade broadens to the 'wings'. The butt end is flanged. [FB 20/02/2012]
Geographical reference
Fiji
Oceania > Melanesia > Fiji
Date / Period
Date made: Before 1884
Date collected
Prior to 1884
Acquisition information
Donated: 1884
Materials and processes
Material Wood Plant, Process Carved
Dimensions
Length: max 1150 mm, Width: max 330 mm, Depth: max 60 mm
Object numbers
Accession number: 1884.12.117
Research and responses

Paddle club. See F Clunie 'Fijian Weapons and Warfare' 1977 Fiji Museum, Suva, Bulletin of the Fiji Museum no.2 and R. Ewins, Fijian Artefacts: Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery collection' Australia 1982: p.44 "Paddle Clubs - Culacula and Kinikini. These broad-bladed clubs were of two types, war clubs and ceremonial. They are said to be possibly Tongan or Samoan in origin but some of the oldest surviving Fijian clubs are of the Culacula type. The war-clubs were used like broadswords, the sharp edges on the very hard wood being sufficient to snap, if not cut through bone. The ornately decorated ceremonial clubs were often excessively broad, almost fan-like, and were exclusive to chiefs and priests. They were handed down as heirlooms, and long use has often worn the carved designs almost away from the handle., even the blades in some cases. They were probably seldom used to strike with, being so thin in the blade that they would break easily - though not, it must be admitted, before doing very considerable damage..." [FB 14/02/2012]

'Paddle' club, kinikini, ceremonial club - see F Clunie 'Fijian Weapons and Warfare' 1977 Fiji Museum, Suva, Bulletin of the Fiji Museum no.2 and R. Ewins, Fijian Artefacts: Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery collection' Australia 1982. [AP Leverhulme project on founding collection 1995-1998]

Search terms: Weapon, Ritual and Ceremonial, Club, Ceremonial Object