A Fiji Islands club with ivory inlay, Republic of the Fiji Islands

Club inlaid with sperm whale ivory teeth (physeter catodon).

Christie's, London, March 15, 1978, lot 133
Lance and Roberta Entwistle, London
Morton and Estelle Sosland, Kansas City, acquired from the above

Very good condition overall for an object of this age and rarity; several age cracks along the shaft, partially filled, as seen on photographs; nicks and scratches, wear and tear from traditional use; minor loss to one star-shaped sperm whale toothy inlay and minor chip to upper wooden edge of another one; exceptionally fine honey brown patina of the wood and golden patina of the inlays.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

As Wardwell (1994: 164, text to cat. 67) notes: "Clubs are among the most important group of art objects that were made on the Fiji Islands. They were used for combat, dancing, and prestige display [...]. Although many of only average quality were made by their owners, exceptional examples for chiefs [... such as the offered lot] were shaped and decorated by craftsmen who were paid by them for their work with property and food. Wealthy chiefs therefore obviously possessed more and better clubs than commoners. [...] After [the wood] had been cut, the wood was buried in the soil or soaked in water for various periods so that it would attain the proper color and seasoning before it was carved. Craftsmen used such tools as stone-bladed adzes, splitting wedges, hardwood hammers, shell scrapers, twist drills, and rasps made of coral or the skin of sharks or rays. The most important clubs required the skills of two artists: one to prepare the wood and give it its essential shape, another to apply the ivory inlays and meticulous decorative surface embellishments that are so distinctive to these objects. [...] After the work was finished, the clubs were sanded smooth with pumice and finally oiled."

The offered lot of the type vunikau bulibuli was made from the bottom part of a tree and served as war club. For closely related clubs cf. Phelps (1975: 198, pl. 111, figs. 861-864) and Sotheby's, New York, November 11, 2005, lot 17.