i Wau Totokia

human history

i Wau Totokia. Beaked battle-axe. This i Wau Totokia is a smaller version of a weapon intended to be gripped with both hands and used to pierce a human skull. It consists of a large bulbous head with a prominent beak, and a short handle which bends slightly towards the head. The club is top heavy, with the surface of the circular head carved in a chequered grid pattern, and the beak tapering off into a rounded point. The handle is cylindrical in shape with the grip of the handle carved in a tavatava (shallow incisions), zigzag in design. The butt of the handle is finished in a carved cap. The i Ula is dark in colour with a glossy patina.

Accession number: 1925.92 Last Update: 9 Jul 2019
Place
Fiji
Accession Number

1925.92

Accession Date

30 Apr 1925

Other Id

13418 (ethnology)

Department

Pacific

Enquire API view
10 Images
i Wau Totokia, 1925.92, 13418, Photographed by Richard Ng, digital, 13 Sep 2017, Cultural Permissions Apply Cultural Permissions Apply
View gallery ( 10)