Fijian Ula Club
Exceptional Fijian I Ula Kitu War Club with Bone Inlay.
Object Type: Fijian throwing Club
Locality: Fiji
Artist: Unknown
Circa: 1850
Height: 42 cm
Description: This I Ula Kitu represents a distinguished and culturally resonant example of Fijian war craftsmanship, executed in a form characteristic of the 19th century but elevated by features of rare artistic and symbolic significance. While the silhouette adheres to the classical I Ula typology—compact, formidable, and carved for devastating close combat—the refinement of the grip suggests the hand of a Tongan carver, whose mastery was often sought for weapons destined for chiefly or high-ranking Fijian warriors.
What distinguishes this particular club, however, is the extraordinary inlay of human bone embedded within the shaft. Such inlays are vanishingly rare and possess immense ritual and narrative potency. According to Fijian martial tradition, the incorporation of an enemy’s bone—particularly that of a slain foe —was not merely an act of dominance but one of psychological warfare. The placement of this inlay serves as a chilling declaration: the warrior does not merely defeat his enemy, he kills them eats them and then uses their bones to decorate his weapons.
Fijian Ula’s are common but exceptional examples are hard to come by.
Price: $2,200