Fine Club, Rennell or Ballona Island

Fine Club, Rennell or Ballona Island
baukiaga
length 16 3/4in (42.5cm)

Rennell Island and Ballona Island are two neighboring islands located just south of the Solomon Islands. They are among a group of islands known as the Polynesian Outliers which are inhabited by Polynesians but lie geographically outside of the Polynesian Triangle within Micronesia. The cultures share concepts of hierarchy and rank with western Polynesians, but, due to their proximity to Micronesia, have incorporated ideas from these neighbors. Throughout the nineteenth century, there was much feuding throughout the Pacific as various leaders tried to consolidate power; the Polynesian Outliers were not an exception.

This finely stone-carved club with a tapered shaft has eight blunt radial projections on the mace head with exceedingly fine and original 19th century tightly woven sennit cordage circling the top of the head, lashed on with threads wrapping down through two squared holes in the shaft; rich, dark brown patina.

Cf. Birket-Smith, Kaj, An Ethnological Sketch of Rennell Island, 2nd Ed., Royal Academy, Denmark, Kobenhavn, 1969, fig. 70b