Club
20th century
Object PlaceSamoa
Medium/Techniquewood, wire
Credit LineGift of Geneviève McMillan in memory of Reba Stewart
Accession number2009.2646
On View
Not on viewClassificationsWarfare, hunting, fishing
Collections
The Samoan Islands span nearly 450 kilometers of ocean. Much like Fiji, the Samoan islands were constantly enveloped in wars and skirmishes amongst the various chiefdoms. Fighting between the Samoans and the Tongans was particularly common one hundred years prior to the arrival of Cook's expedition. War clubs and spears are amongst the most common artifacts associated with the Islands. This club has notched tooth-like protrusions on the left side and what may be Samoan tattoo patterns on the right side.
ProvenanceGeneviève McMillan (b. 1922 - d. 2008), Cambridge, MA; 2008, to the Geneviève McMillan and Reba Stewart Foundation, Cambridge; 2009, gift of the Geneviève McMillan and Reba Stewart Foundation to the MFA. (Accession Date: June 17, 2009)
Artist Unidentified, Pacific Islander