CW01 Superb Trobriand Islands Massim Sword Club c1920

$395.00

Item No.                 . CW01

Description          . Superb Trobriand Island Massim Sword Club. The club was collected by Charles Fieldhouse Swanson who was a Marine Engineer on a coastal freighter servicing the Islands during the 1920’s. The holes around the handle were used for decorative items such as shells, native grass etc during ceremonies. The sword-clubs were widespread and men carried them as an everyday item and were periodically used as weapons for skirmish’s and brawl’s in village disputes. In pitched battles with outsiders generally spears and shields were used. See ‘Malinowski, B’ (1920) ‘War & Weapons Among the Natives of the Trobriand Islands’

Size                         .  71cm (28“)

Price                       . USD$395