Solomon Islands
Circa 1900
Hardwood, nautilus shell inlay, woven plaited fiber
Height 40 in (101.6 cm)
Provenance: Private collection, Auckland, New Zealand
Inlaid clubs from the Solomon Islands stand at the intersection of weapon form and prestige object production. Nautilus shell inlay was used across the region on canoes, figures, and weapons, where the contrast of pale shell against dark wood signaled skill, status, and material value. Objects of this type were associated with men of standing and with the exchange networks that connected island communities across the archipelago.
The club tapers to a narrow point, with the upper shaft decorated in nautilus shell inlay that remains clearly legible. The midsection retains its woven plaited fiber binding, adding texture and preserving an important part of the object’s original construction. The hardwood has darkened with age, while the inlay sits flush with the surface, reflecting careful and practiced workmanship.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
Solomon Islands
Circa 1900
Hardwood, nautilus shell inlay, woven plaited fiber
Height 40 in (101.6 cm)
Provenance: Private collection, Auckland, New Zealand
Inlaid clubs from the Solomon Islands stand at the intersection of weapon form and prestige object production. Nautilus shell inlay was used across the region on canoes, figures, and weapons, where the contrast of pale shell against dark wood signaled skill, status, and material value. Objects of this type were associated with men of standing and with the exchange networks that connected island communities across the archipelago.
The club tapers to a narrow point, with the upper shaft decorated in nautilus shell inlay that remains clearly legible. The midsection retains its woven plaited fiber binding, adding texture and preserving an important part of the object’s original construction. The hardwood has darkened with age, while the inlay sits flush with the surface, reflecting careful and practiced workmanship.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
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