i Wau Totokia

human history

i Wau Totokia. Battleaxe. Carved from a single piece of kau (wood), with the tolo ni wau (body of the club) and the liga ni wau (handle of the club), round in cross-section. There is a teki ni wau (rounded butt end) at the end of the liga ni wau. The neck of the tolo ni wau is curved extending to the ulu ni wau (head of the club). The ulu ni wau is round in shape, resembling a pineapple fruit or the fruit of a pandanus tree, and is covered with 8 rows of studs, and with a protruding beak, approximately 90mm long. The liga ni wau is decorated with tavatava (shallow incisions) consisting of vertical and horizontal rows of zigzag patterns. There is also is serrated band carved along the top of the zigzag patterned tavatava. High polish. Dark red brown in colour.

Accession number: 1955.42.1 Last Update: 20 Sept 2018
Other Name

Battleaxe (English)

Place
Fiji
Accession Number

1955.42.1

Accession Date

14 Mar 1955

Other Id

34011 (ethnology)

Department

Pacific

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7 Images
club, 1955.42.1, 34011, Photographed by Richard Ng, digital, 28 Sep 2017, Cultural Permissions Apply Cultural Permissions Apply
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