Fijian Buliwakana Throwing Club-Polynesian Weapon-Oceanic Art
Here is a fine and old Fijian throwing club. That particular style of knobbed head most closely resembles found on a longer club Fergus Clunie identifies as Vunikau-buliwakana—which refers to the way the root nubbins have been cut off to form the head (Clunie, 1977, p. 58). The present club could be the top half of a longer club that was possibly damaged and repurposed into this shorter throwing club. Either way, the carving is striking in both aesthetics and intent. The patina is glossy dark, dark brown. There is a hole at the base of the handle for a rope wrist loop. The club comes from the Seymour Lazar Collection, dates to the mid 19th century or before, is 16” (40.6 cm) in height.