Antique "Napa" Santa Cruz Island, Soloman Islands Dance Wand 31 1/2" x 2 1/4"d

Description

Antique Hand Crafted Santa Cruz Islands “Napa” (Ceremonial Ochre Painted Dance Club), Solomon Islands Carved from Native Tropical Wood
Circa: Late 19
th
or Early 20
th
Century
31 1/2 inches (80 cm) long x 2 1/4 inches (5.8 cm) wide and deep
Condition; Below Average: Although Napa clubs have splits resulting from ceremonial use; this one shows some losses to the paint and several splits. There is no sign of repair or restoration.
The dance wand or club known as a “
napa”
was created from a single log of wood. It is decorated with red, white and black natural mineral paint. The form is that of an abstracted canoe, with two opposing stylized ancestor heads.
According to tradition the original “napa” wand is attributed to a supernatural being called Bamuda who transmitted to a male recipient the canoe shape along with associated songs and dances. That individual’s descendants, including children, have a traditional right to perform with the wands. Part of the ritual involved the participants banging their wands together which may account for the splits.
This wand was from a Berkeley, California collection.
Shipping insurance is included in the USA and on international shipments when available.
Shipping can be combined on multiple items if feasible.
Satisfaction is guaranteed.
This item is guaranteed to be authentic and in the condition described.
This auction is presented by
Jerry Weisberg
trading in tribal antiques since 1973.