A poke in the eye with a sharp stick

Lew · 19th September 2010, 12:58 PM

Hi Tim

Can you post some clearer pics of your stick please. From what I can see this stick seems rather plain and does not strike me as being aboriginal?

Tim Simmons · 19th September 2010, 02:13 PM

These are all the pictures I have at the moment. I am not worried about the plain look. I will look for other plain weapon pictures.

fearn · 19th September 2010, 05:07 PM

The name escapes me right now, but didn't the filipinos have a double-ended wooden throwing stick?

F

Ron Anderson · 20th September 2010, 08:08 AM

Hi Tim

I've not seen that before, but it does strike me as aboriginal in its style. All I can really tell from your stick is that it seems to be certainly early 20th century or earlier.

There is such a variety of fighting sticks here. And you're right, there's not enough in terms of solid reference material on aboriginal implements.

Is that mulga wood, do you know? This would be a significant clue as to its origins.

Lew · 20th September 2010, 11:57 AM

Ron

It does not look like mulga wood to me maybe some other type of wood. The only thing that bothers me is the lack of hand carved designs on the wood. Older examples usually show carved lines plus the older sticks are sleeker and more streamlined. This stick seems crudely made so I would place in around 1930 or so?

Tim Simmons · 20th September 2010, 07:08 PM

With luck I might have this tomorrow. I am very excited about this piece. The plain functional form does not detract from purpuse or age for me, indeed it does look like an old piece to me. I would not like to say Australia as the definate origin. The record I have of such stick weapon is this plate of early Micronesian artefacts. If one thinks of the hundreds of islands besides Australia using wood weapons, we could be looking at a vast area. If one googles "Micronesian or Polynesian double daggers" or just daggers it is clear that this form is far from an isolated creation. The fancy one in the pictures is 70cm long and 3.25 cm thick the new one according to the seller is 68.5cm long and 4cm thick. I will be able to make a better appraisal when I have it. As regards to undecorated Autralian weapons there are many example is "The Art of Eastern Australia" I think copies are still available from Amazon.

Tim Simmons · 20th September 2010, 07:49 PM

I am not stating anything but this picture of a wood dagger from the "Bishop Museum, Honolulu" is not a million miles away in all aspects from the double pointed stick.

19th September 2010, 02:13 PM	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,855	These are all the pictures I have at the moment. I am not worried about the plain look. I will look for other plain weapon pictures. Attached Images

20th September 2010, 07:08 PM	#6
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,855	With luck I might have this tomorrow. I am very excited about this piece. The plain functional form does not detract from purpuse or age for me, indeed it does look like an old piece to me. I would not like to say Australia as the definate origin. The record I have of such stick weapon is this plate of early Micronesian artefacts. If one thinks of the hundreds of islands besides Australia using wood weapons, we could be looking at a vast area. If one googles "Micronesian or Polynesian double daggers" or just daggers it is clear that this form is far from an isolated creation. The fancy one in the pictures is 70cm long and 3.25 cm thick the new one according to the seller is 68.5cm long and 4cm thick. I will be able to make a better appraisal when I have it. As regards to undecorated Autralian weapons there are many example is "The Art of Eastern Australia" I think copies are still available from Amazon. Attached Images

20th September 2010, 07:49 PM	#7
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,855	I am not stating anything but this picture of a wood dagger from the "Bishop Museum, Honolulu" is not a million miles away in all aspects from the double pointed stick. Attached Images

19th September 2010, 12:58 PM	#1
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Hi Tim Can you post some clearer pics of your stick please. From what I can see this stick seems rather plain and does not strike me as being aboriginal?

19th September 2010, 05:07 PM	#3
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	The name escapes me right now, but didn't the filipinos have a double-ended wooden throwing stick? F

20th September 2010, 08:08 AM	#4
Ron Anderson Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 228	Hi Tim I've not seen that before, but it does strike me as aboriginal in its style. All I can really tell from your stick is that it seems to be certainly early 20th century or earlier. There is such a variety of fighting sticks here. And you're right, there's not enough in terms of solid reference material on aboriginal implements. Is that mulga wood, do you know? This would be a significant clue as to its origins.

20th September 2010, 11:57 AM	#5
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Ron It does not look like mulga wood to me maybe some other type of wood. The only thing that bothers me is the lack of hand carved designs on the wood. Older examples usually show carved lines plus the older sticks are sleeker and more streamlined. This stick seems crudely made so I would place in around 1930 or so?