SALOMON ISLANDS, San Cristobal Island (Makira), 19th century - Lot 49

SALOMON ISLANDS, San Cristobal Island (Makira), 19th century Oblong club with a large ribbed leaf head, devoid of lugs, extended by a long tapered handle carved with a stylized double-V motif evoking bird wings. The refined decoration highlights the balanced silhouette, underlined by a smooth, glossy patina. Hardwood, old russet and brown patina, wear marks, small restoration on the tip, consolidated crack, good overall condition. Height 135 cm. Width : 41 cm. Provenance : Ancienne galerie Robert Duperrier, Paris, 1980-90. Used as a weapon of war in tribal combat, this club belongs to the type known as qauata, characteristic of the island of San Cristobal. Unlike other spiked or lugged shield clubs, the qauata has a flattened, ribbed silhouette, designed to deflect projectiles while retaining an offensive capacity. The stylized motif at the top of the handle, inspired by the morphology of a seabird such as the frigatebird, evokes the symbolic importance of fauna in island belief systems. An object of prestige as much as a ritual weapon, it bears witness to the formal elaboration and mastery of local craftsmanship.