Club, New Caledonia. - Lot 257

Club, New Caledonia. Phallic club with zigzag ornamentation under the collar of the summit bulb and in vertical registers at the base of the bulb, on the handle, going around it. These chevrons are highlighted with lime. The grip is marked by a diameter slightly larger than the handle. Antique object, as evidenced by the smooth, shiny brown patina and the various cracks and chips. Museum quality. Kanaks, New Caledonia. On base. Dimension: 69 cm long. Estimated dating: Second half of the 19th century to first third of the 20th century Provenance : - Acquired by Georges Allioux - By descent. N.B. This club may have been purchased at the 1931 Colonial Exhibition and may date back to Georges Allioux's father. Selective bibliography : - Roger BOULAY, Casses-tête et massues Kanak, Éditions de l'Étrave, 2015; particularly pp.36-38 - Steven HOOPER (ed.), Pouvoir et prestige. Art des massues du Pacifique, Skira, 2022; particularly pp. 210-221 and pp. 293-294. Corpus for comparison: - Musée du Quai Branly - Jacques Chirac (Paris): 71.1962.72.54 - Lot 22, Jack-Philippe Ruellan, Vannes - Feb. 27, 2021