The second annual Art of the South Seas auction from Bonhams has been highlighted by the sale of a finely carved club from the Marquesas Islands.
 French Polynesia is unrivalled by any other nation for its aesthetic weaponry pre-Christianity, according to Bonhams |
The sale took place in San Francisco on February 10, with the club selling for $43,750. It originates from the islands of French Polynesia, which are known for their spectacular tribal art before the arrival of Christianity.
The club is made of ironwood, a very hard and dense material, and would have been a warrior's most prized possession, both as a weapon and ceremonial item.
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