A Superb Solomon Islands Throwing Club from Rennell or Bellona Island 19th Century

A Superb Solomon Islands Throwing Club from Rennell or Bellona Island Polynesian Outliers in the Solomon Islands dating from the 19th Century

See more Fine Clubs in Clubs Gallery

This fine old Throwing Club is from either Rennell or Bellona Islands which are two small islands that are Polynesian Outliers in the Solomon Islands. The Solomon Islands are predominantly a Melanesian county expect a few small islands like Rennell and Bellona which were settled by Polynesian people. Between 2000 and 1600 BC, people belonging to the Lapita Culture made their appearance. Then by Lapita people about 1000 BC. The next settlement occurred on both Rennell and Bellona around 130 BC, with another major occupation in about 1000 AD.  Later settlement of Rennell occurred prior to 1400 AD by Polynesians from Uvea, now Wallis Island.

This superb Club is made from a single piece of hardwood, the final is carved with eight well-balanced pointed lobes, this is the striking section of the club. The club has a very finely braided coconut fibre coir sting that is lashed to the club in an intricate pattern that would have taken great skill & time to make.  The club has a beautiful old dark brown patina

Throwing clubs are well known in places like Fiji, they were kept tucked into a warrior’s belt to be thrown at an adversary if they were running away.  These clubs were thrown with great skill and accuracy, they would stun & knock down the retreating person until the warrior could finish them off often with a larger heavier club.

Provenance: Collected by a Captain on the Melanesian Mission Ship the MS Southern Cross This ship was in service from 1892 to 1902.

Provenance: The Todd Barlin Collection of Solomon Islands & Oceanic Art

I first went to Papua New Guinea in 1985 for an adventure & what I found was that I really enjoyed being with the people of New Guinea, over the next 38 years I spent extensive time spent collecting and documenting traditional art & ceremonies in remote areas of Papua New Guinea & West Papua, The Solomon Islands & Vanuatu & the other Pacific Islands countries. During these travels, I made major collections of New Guinea & Oceanic Art for major Museums and Public Art Galleries

I was honoured by being in the prestigious Louvre Museum Magazine for the collections I made for The Museum of African & Oceanic Art Paris in1996 (now the Musee Quai Branly) for the exhibition “Asmat et Mimika d’ Irian Jaya April 1996 At THE MUSEE NATIONAL des ARTS D’AFRIQUE et d’ OCEANIE, Paris

See all of the links & photos in my new EXHIBITIONS GALLERY and there is the link to the article in the prestigious Louvre Magazine 1996

I have artwork for Museums & Art Galleries but also for collectors at every stage of their collecting. I want to encourage people to explore the fine art of New Guinea & West Papua and the Pacific Islands and to be able to see and touch the artworks in a relaxed and friendly manner in my Sydney Gallery.  I would like to invite you to visit my gallery and see the artworks in person and also look at my website www.oceanicartsaustralia.com  where there are many Galleries & Sub Galleries to explore.

My Gallery of nearly 40 years is the last physical gallery in Sydney that specialises in New Guinea & Oceanic Art. Sydney is just a couple hours’ flight to New Guinea & the Pacific Islands where all of these amazing artworks came from, Australia’s closest neighbours. 

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