Fa'alaufa'i

Fa'alaufa'i. Banana leaf club. This is a carved fa'alaufa'i made of wood. The fa'alaufa'i is a light brown colour and has a smooth unpolished surface. The handle of the fa'alaufa'i is at first cylindrical in shape before narrowing to a four-sided handle. The handle then flares to a flat four-sided blade with a diamond cross-section. The blade has then been carved to emphasize a total of thirty-six tala (spikes) with eighteen on either side of the blade. The tala vary in size with some tala broken at the root while other tala are simply chipped at the tips. The tip of the blade has been carved to emphasize a sharp point. The name fa'alaufa'i is in reference to the 'au'upega's (weapon of war) banana leaf-like attributes. Fa'a is the Samoan word meaning "like," or "the shape of." Laufa'i is the Samoan word meaning "banana leaf". This 'au'upega is structured to resemble a banana leaf and is used in close combat.

Other Name

Banana leaf club (English)

Place

Samoa/Pacific

Accession Date

1916

Other Id

13016 (ethnology)

Department

Pacific