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A Tongan paddle club 'Akau-Ta, long handle in the form of a…
Lot No.
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Description:
A Tongan paddle club 'Akau-Ta, long handle in the form of a quatrefoil section and the head shaped like a paddle. The 'Akau-ta was a symbol of rank as well as a weapon. This club being entirely covered with ornamentation suggests that the owner was a highly skilled warrior and therefore held a high status with an exalted mana - the Polynesian concept of power, prestige, and influence. The formal complexity of the carving indicates a labour-intensity of sharply faceted, delicate modelling chisel-work, enhanced by the fine chocolate patina. The geometric decoration relates to designs also used in tattooing and bark cloths, as all apply these motifs to also protect the bearer. This fighting club provides a vehicle for a patterned surface that both honours and shields, and is a superb example of prestigious Tongan arsenal. Provenance: from the collection of Keith St Cartmail, length 104 cm, width 11.5 cm
Estimate:
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Price:
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Category:
Unclassified