Exquisite Tongan paddle club with quatrefoil handle
A paddle club 'akau-ta, Tonga. The ' akau-ta was a symbol of rank as well as a weapon. This example differs in its shape, the handle in the form of a quatrefoil section and the head shaped like a paddle. Tongan clubs are renowned for their exquisitely fine decoration and this is another stunning illustration. Provenance: from the collection of Keith St Cartmail. Length 40.94 in., width 4.53 in.
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- Quatrefoil - A stylised four-circle design, itself contained within a larger circle, with Gothic origins and often seen as window designs in ecclesiastical architecture. The use of the motif was popular in Gothic Revival furniture of the 19th century.
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