Arts of Africa, Oceania and the Americas | Antiquities - 20th February 2024
Lot 281
A Fiji small pole club bowai
Estimate £200 - £300 | Hammer £277
Inc. Buyers Premium
Description
A Fiji small pole club bowai
Melanesia
of tapered form with a slightly domed top and carved wide bands of zig-zag and linear decoration,
81.5cm long.
Provenance
The van Raalte Collection, UK.
Clunie states that these small truncheons were used in close combat and to maintain order in chiefly households. They were commonly used by the chiefs to beat their wives and concubines when they became flirtatious or unruly.