pōvai apa'apai

pōvai apa'apai. Coconut stalk club. pōvai were used by men and warriors in times of warfare and combat. pōvai is the general name for clubs in Tonga, each pōvai has a specific name according to its make and purpose. This is a pōvai apa'apai is carved form one block of toa (iron wood), it is polished and dark brown in colour. In comparison to the other povai of its kind, this one is quite short. The entire povai has a diamond cross section, the handle is the smallest end and the club flares and tapers out from there in width and length ending in a flat top. The whole club, besides a small unmarked section at the base, is carved with geometric lines and patterns as well as human and animal figures. Along the blade there are three sections with carved ridges, each section the number of ridges increase, the first section has 7, then 8, then 9.