Solomon Island Supe Club-Malaita Island-Melanesian Art-Oceanic Art
I would say this is the oldest Supe club I have ever owned. I can assuredly say it is pre-contact as one can clearly see the longitudinal striations from shell scraping down on the grip approaching the pommel. The cross design of the elongated diamond blade also shows signs of being carved with non-metal tools. Supe clubs come from Malaita Island in the Solomon Islands and this one comes from the private collection of the Beverly Hills dealer Harry Franklin—with his circular label with the inventory number O691 sits above a typical rectangular Franklin Gallery label. The club dates to the late 18th/early 19th century, is 25 1/8” (63.6 cm) in height.