Details

IPSMG:R.1938.1.76

Ipswich Collections

Carved bifacial club ('u'u) made from ironwood. Club with heavy, oval-ended head representing a human face. On each side, two small tiki heads carved in high relief, surrounded with radiating lines, represent the eyes. Above the brow line on each side, a small tiki face is carved in low relief, and either side of the eyes also. The main tiki head (representing the nose) is at the centre of a projecting angular crossbar. Below, two rectangular design areas are carved in low relief with the ipu (container) motif, and the two areas are joined by thin arms, the hands raised to the chin of the main tiki. Below this a broad tiki face (eyes, nose and ears only) are carved in low relief, with another band of ipu motifs below. The lower part of the shaft is bound with plaited coconut fibre, securing sections of hair. The butt is slightly flared. Stuck-on label now partially removed.

Polynesia, French Polynesia, Marquesas Islands

19th Century

wood, coconut fibre, hair, human