A Very Rare Fijian Pole Club 'Bowai' with a mass of raised stud projections to the head

A Very Rare Fijian Pole Club
Early 19 th Century
Size : 117 cm long – 46 ins long
There is a very similar Fijian pole club to this example in the Steven Phelps catalogue of the James Hooper collection 'Art and Artefacts of the Pacific , Africa and the America's' , ( no. 894 , plate 116 ) . From the distinctive designs carved on the grip they are thought to have been carved by the New Zealand Maori . In the first half of the 19 th century traders and whalers often took aboard native labour to supplement their crew and these clubs were most probably ornamented in Fiji by Maori's on visiting ships .
This is a very rare example of early pacific cross cultural craft , design and influence .

A Very Rare Fijian Pole Club 'Bowai' with a mass of raised stud projections to the head

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+44 (0)7768 236921
+44 (0)7836 684133

enquiries@finch-and-co.co.uk