This item is a very old and large paddle club from the Solomon Islands. It was made out of a dark and very dense tropical hardwood. The handle has a narrow Lenticular cross section. The shaft tapers to a wide symmetrical head. The head also has a Lenticular cross section and there is a shallow rib running along the thickest section of the head on both sides as a structural reinforcement.

I acquired this artifact from the Barclay Gallery in 1988. Barclay Gallery acquired it from an auction house in the UK. A very fine artifact made in the 19th Century. The collection tag said it was from the Trobriand Islands, but a recent internet search found identical clubs collected in the 19th Century in the Solomon Islands. It is of a similar size and shape as the sword clubs made by the Australian Aborigines in Western North Arnhem Land.

It is in very good condition with a fine patina. There is some shallow compression blunting at the expanded tip. None of this should affect the strength or use of this artifact.