An extremely unusual dance wand or fighting club in the form of a two tined fork. The pommel is incised. The twin blades are painted with alternating rectangles of red pigment and complex motifs. Possibly Astrolabe Bay area to the Huon Gulf, North Eastern coast, PNG, Melanesia. Black-palm wood with lime and reddish pigment. An excellent patina of age and wear with a restoration to the edge of the pommel. 89 x 8,3 x 2 cm. 19th/20th century. A similar example was sold in 2003 by Galerie Meyer and another example is in the JOLIKA collection of John & Marcia Friede, NY.
	A photo showing a contemporary couple at a mission feast in the Astrolabe Bay Area showing a single blade club of the same type.