Baton
Production date
1880-1900
Country
Solomon Islands
State/Province
Malaita
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Object detail
Description
Baton-Assassins, WARI HAU, stone (iron pyrites) head, wood shaft inlaid with nautilus shell cutouts set in a black parinarium paste to form a geometric pattern, head lashed with plant fibre strips, 2 human teeth suspended from pendants of glass trade bead
Classification
COSTUME Ceremonial (other)
INDIGENOUS CULTURES Melanesian & South Sea Islander
INDIGENOUS CULTURES Melanesian & South Sea Islander
Maker
Production date
1880-1900
Production place
Measurements
L344 x W34 x H34 mm
Media/Materials description
Wood, stone, shell, plant paste, plant fibre, teeth
History and use
Wari Hau ceremonial staffs are sometimes referred to assassin's batons, as they were worn by men who had killed. The batons would be suspended from a cord around the neck of the bearer and displayed hanging down their back.
This baton was collected by W. H. Lawrence, who worked on labour trade vessels in the region from 1883 to circa 1900. These vessels brought Pacific Islanders, predominantly from Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands, to Australia as a cheap form of labour for the Australian sugar industry.
This baton was collected by W. H. Lawrence, who worked on labour trade vessels in the region from 1883 to circa 1900. These vessels brought Pacific Islanders, predominantly from Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands, to Australia as a cheap form of labour for the Australian sugar industry.
Registration number
E455
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