FIDJI ISLANDS, Melanesia. Hardwood, brown and red patina. Powerful "i ula Tavatava" throwing club, the handle ending in a globular head carved with gadroons and surmounted by a half-hemispherical protuberance and the handle carved with geometric motifs. 19th century. Length : 42 cm. Slight wear. Note: On the underside of the gadrooned mace are ten small indentations which could indicate the number of enemies killed by this club. Literary reference: Fijian Artefacts, Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery Collection, 1982, Rod Ewins. "Puzzles were the Fijians' favourite weapon, and as they lived on a war footing (at least until the 1st half of the 19th century) they were in great demand. Victims were marked with notches...". Provenance: Private collection, Yvelines.