‘Akau war club

Tonga, 18th Century
length: 98 cm
 
Provenance: Collection of Morris Pinto (1923-2009), and thence by descent
 
A fine 'akau, of unusual shape, with a four-sided flared head tapering to a circular shaft, with a simple lug butt end with drill hole. This club is only half-carved, a work in progress. The head features multiple glyphs, with eight in human form, including two combatants fighting with similar clubs, a boomerang, lizard and other anthropomorphic shapes.