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THB19th C. Fijian Wood Cali Club w/ Incised Decoration
Lot 29b
About Seller
Artemis Fine Arts
686 S Taylor Ave, Ste 106
Louisville, CO 80027
United States
Selling antiquities, ancient and ethnographic art online since 1993, Artemis Gallery specializes in Classical Antiquities (Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Near Eastern), Asian, Pre-Columbian, African / Tribal / Oceanographic art. Our extensive inventory includes pottery, stone, metal, wood, glass and textil...Read more
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Live Auction in Progress ... Currently on Lot Estimate:
$2,500 - $4,500
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About Auction
Live
By Artemis Fine Arts
Aug 22, 2025
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2025-08-22 10:00:00
2025-08-22 10:00:00
America/New_York
Bidsquare
Bidsquare : Indigenous Art - Ralph T. Coe Center, Santa Fe, NM
https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/indigenous-art---ralph-t-coe-center-santa-fe-nm-20324
Featuring works of art from the Ralph T. Coe Center for the Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico, a non-profit focused on promoting Indigenous Arts globally. All proceeds from the sale of these items will support future grants to Rehoming Program participants. Artemis Fine Arts info@artemisfinearts.com
Featuring works of art from the Ralph T. Coe Center for the Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico, a non-profit focused on promoting Indigenous Arts globally. All proceeds from the sale of these items will support future grants to Rehoming Program participants. Artemis Fine Arts info@artemisfinearts.com
View Full Catalog (452)
- Lot Description
Oceania, Fiji, ca. 19th century CE. A striking Fijian hardwood cali (also known as sali or tebetebe) club, its distinctive form characterized by a broad, angled striking head with textured cross-hatched decoration and a long, tapering shaft. Fashioned from dense, durable ironwood, the weapon combines elegance of form with formidable striking power. Although sometimes called "gunstock" clubs due to their superficial resemblance to rifles - predating the introduction of firearms to the region - cali were specifically designed for delivering powerful cutting and disjointing blows in combat. The name sali derives from its resemblance to the clawed flower of the sali plant (genus Musa, banana family), a botanical reference that underscores the weapon's organic inspiration. This example, of slightly smaller proportions, may have been intended for ceremonial use, perhaps wielded by a boy during initiation rites or in ritual dances. Size: 27" L x 5.6" W x 1.1" H (68.6 cm x 14.2 cm x 2.8 cm)
The combination of well-preserved carving, smooth patina from long handling, and the striking geometric decoration on the head speaks to both the symbolic and functional importance of such clubs in Fijian culture, where they served not only as weapons of war but as markers of rank, heritage, and ceremonial authority.
Provenance: Ralph T. Coe Center for the Arts, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA, purchased January 2002; ex-James Economos Works of Art, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA; ex-collection of Kevin Conru, London, UK
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
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#195969Chipping to head and end of handle. Expected surface wear with nicks and abrasions in areas, but, otherwise, intact and excellent with good remaining detail and rich patina to wood.Condition
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