Vanikau Bulibuli Puzzle. Battle club made of wood with inlays...
Vanikau Bulibuli Puzzle. Battle club made of wood with inlays of sperm whale ivory (Physeter macrocephalus) and plant fibers; this head-scratcher was crafted by preserving the natural roots at its end, which have been inlaid with sperm whale ivory, and the pommel is adorned with star-shaped inlays of sperm whale ivory, the handle grip is inlaid with geometric zigzag patterns and coils of plant fibers, Fiji Islands, first half of the 19th century, patina from use. H. 113 cm. (some missing inlays). Reference: Cranstone 1961, fig. 22a; Phelps 1976, p. 198, no. 864; Ewins 1982, p. 35, pl. 2.
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Vanikau Bulibuli Puzzle. Battle club made of wood with inlays of sperm whale ivory (Physeter macrocephalus) and plant fibers; this head-scratcher was crafted by preserving the natural roots at its end, which have been inlaid with sperm whale ivory, and the pommel is adorned with star-shaped inlays of sperm whale ivory, the handle grip is inlaid with geometric zigzag patterns and coils of plant fibers, Fiji Islands, first half of the 19th century, patina from use. H. 113 cm. (some missing inlays). Reference: Cranstone 1961, fig. 22a; Phelps 1976, p. 198, no. 864; Ewins 1982, p. 35, pl. 2.
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