Club

Description

Wood club from Tonga, a variation of apa'apai club. Four-sided, faceted shape ending in a faceted point. The club is narrower and rounder at the handle end, and progresses up to a more defined and wider surface at the head. Many carved panels filled with varying geometric designs of zigzags, lines, circles, and triangles cover all surfaces. On the upper half of the club, interspersed with the geometric carvings, are figures of birds, a man attacking another man with a club, and a man standing facing out holding what appears to be clubs in his hands. The figure is flanked with two upright rectangles each topped with a palm-frond shape (trees?). Clubs like this were carried by Tongan warriors for use in combat and as a sign of status and rank.