POLE CLUB, AKATARA
COOK ISLANDS
African & Oceanic Art, Natural History and Ancient Art
Auction: 30 July 2025 from 14:00 BST
Description
carved wood, an elongated grip with oval cross-section that tapers towards the lower end, with a finely serrated blade above
Dimensions
220.3cm tall
Provenance
From a private collection in the north of England, assembled between the 1950s and 1970s. This particular piece was acquired from a local antique shop during that period, where it was catalogued as a “tribal paddle.” It has since remained in the family by descent.
Footnote
The akatara pole club is among the most refined sculptural forms of the Cook Islands. Carved from dense toa (ironwood), its elongated shaft and finely scalloped blade demonstrate a mastery of both material and form. These weapons, often over two metres in length, were never purely functional, rather, they served as symbols of authority and prestige. The undulating edges and tapering silhouette lend the akatara a rhythmic, almost architectural grace, echoed in the refined symmetry of the blade.