**Originally Listed At $2250**
Oceania, Melanesia, Solomon Islands, Rennell-Bellona, Rennell Island (also Muguba), ca. 19th century CE. An extremely rare type of hand club or mace from the Rennell Islands with a stocky wooden handle tied with a twisted suspension cord on the end. The bulbous striking head is composed of a large, ovoid stone that is wrapped with twisted cords that are covered in dark-brown earthen material to secure the fit and mitigate cord slippage. The base of the stone is set within an earthen base that envelops the top of the handle and provides further reinforcement for the stone. Typical clubs/maces from this region have knobbed striking heads secured with lengths of sennet or vegetal fiber, so this example is highly unusual. Size: 4.25" W x 14.2" H (10.8 cm x 36.1 cm); 14.5" H (36.8 cm) on included custom stand.
For a stylistically similar example with a knobbed head, please see The British Museum, museum number OC1915,-.46.
Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection, acquired in May 2015; ex-Leonard Joel Pty. Ltd. "The Mark Lissauer Collection" auction, Melbourne, Australia (May 31, 2015, lot 769)
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#154536
Condition
Chips to earthen lining of cords wrapped atop stone, with several stable fissures to earthen layer on upper handle, abrasions and minor nicks to handle and stone, light encrustations, and minor desiccation and staining to handle cord commensurate with age. Light earthen deposits and great patina throughout.