Search Results

Image 1 of 1

Fighting club, Pulata, 19th–early 20th century
Ebony, lime
80 x 11.4 x 4.4 cm (31 1/2 x 4 1/2 x 1 3/4 in.)
The Marcia and John Friede Collection, a Promised Gift to the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco L05.1.227

Zoom this image

Artist Biography: (none) PROVENANCE: "Robert Emile Bouchard Collection, Montreuil, France." (Catalog #405, New Guinea Art: Masterpieces from the Jolika Collection of Marcia and John Friede, 2005, Volume 2, p. 152.) PUBLICATIONS: 2005 - "These ceremonial clubs were mainly used in the Trobriands for village brawls that may have included "arguments over gardens, pigs, women, sorcery and breaches of etiquette" (Norwick, 1976: 127). They could also be "carried in funerary ceremonies and annual feasts: and should not be seen as ordinary weapons used in regular fighting" (Malinowski, 1920: 12). The top represents the head of a woman (Emile Bouchard, personal communication). For a comparable club, see Newton, 1975, fig. 29; see also Beran, 1980, fig. 97." (Catalog #405, New Guinea Art: Masterpieces from the Jolika Collection of Marcia and John Friede, 2005, Volume 2, p. 152.)

Related Keywords
Pulata club Fighting Francisco San Museums Arts Fine Gift Promised 152 p 2 Volume 2005 Friede John Marcia Jolika Masterpieces Art 405 Catalog France Montreuil Bouchard Emile Robert speakers language Kilivila Massim Northern Oceania Province Bay Milne Guinea New Papua Melanesia Sculpture lime Ebony 0709200406050342 A361142 L05.1.227 AOA