CARVING VARIATIONS ON OCEANIC CLUBS

[fearn]

Hi Vandoo,

One note: Tahua (aka Kahuna, Tohunga, Tohuna, etc) is probably better translated "master" or "sensei" than "shaman." Polynesian societies used what we would call "magic" in every aspect of their lives, from gardening and fishing to making tools, canoes, religion, and healing.

As for the designs, I think you'll find that the designs on Marquesan clubs and Maori wooden clubs closely mirror tattoo designs.

So far as I know, Polynesian tattoo and club designs are both descended from Lapita pottery designs, based on the archeology. What this means is that patterns on lapita pottery looks a lot like what you see on Maori and Marquesan faces.

I'm quite sure this is true for Polynesia. Conversely, I don't think it works for Melanesia or Micronesia.

Hope this helps,

F

Originally Posted by VANDOO

VERY NICE CLUBS GUYS
I THINK THERE ARE PROBABLY CONNECTIONS BETWEEN CARVING ON CLUBS AND TATOOS (TATU).SO I WILL ADD HERE A QUOTE ON POLYNESIAN TATOOS

"POLYNESIAN MYTHOLOGY= THE 2 SONS OF THE GOD OF CREATION TA'AROA TAUGHT THE ART OF TATOOING TO HUMANS. IT WAS A TAPU OR SACRED ART FORM. IT WAS PREFORMED BY SHAMAN (TAHUA) WHO WERE HIGHLY TRAINED IN RELIGIOUS RITUAL, THE MEANING OF THE DESIGNS AND TECKNICAL ASPECTS OF THE ART. THE DESIGNS AND THEIR LOCATIONS ON THE BODY WERE DETERMINED BY ONE'S GENEOLOGY, POSITION IN SOCIETY AND PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENTS." END QUOTE

JUDGEING FROM THE STRICT CEREMONIES AND TABOOS (TAPU) ASSOCIATED WITH POLYNESIAN SOCIETY I AM SURE THERE IS A LOT OF MEANING TO ANY DESIGNS USED ON ARTEFACTS AS WELL AS PEOPLE. I WILL TRY AND SEE IF ANY TATOO DESIGNS ARE THE SAME AS THOSE ON WEAPONS AND IF THE MEANING OR PURPOSE IS KNOWN FOR TATOOS PERHAPS IT WOULD BE THE SAME ON WEAPONS?.
IF ANYONE HAS ACCESS TO GOOD REFRENCE MATERIAL OR CURRENT KNOWLEGE JUMP IN AS I WILL BE STARTING FROM SCRATCH AS FAR AS REFRENCE ON TATOOS GOES.

ONE OLD PICTURE OF MARQUESAN WARRIORS
ONE SMALL HAND CLUB IN LIGHT COLOR HEAVY WOOD, THE KIND THAT DOSEN'T SHOW PATINA JUST WEAR AND DIRT.
THE HANDLE OF A STRANGE CLUB I SUSPECT FROM THE ISLANDS NEAR NEW GUINEA.