Fijian Totokia War Club (Beaked Battle Hammer)

This exceptional Fijian Totokia—often referred to as the pineapple club or beaked battle hammer—is a masterwork of Oceanic weaponry, admired for both its deadly efficiency and symbolic prestige.

Carved from dense hardwood, Vesi / Ironwood, the Totokia is instantly recognisable by its spiked spherical head and long projecting beak-like spike, designed to puncture and crush the skull of an opponent in battle. Despite its brutal functionality, it was equally valued as a status symbol, carried by high-ranking warriors and chiefs as a mark of power and authority.

Features of this example:

• Excellent patina: a deep, lustrous surface acquired over time, testifying to its age and authenticity.

• Traditional form: the rounded spiked head, often mistakenly linked to the pineapple, is in fact inspired by the fruit of the pandanus.

• Balance of form and function: both a weapon of war and a ceremonial object of prestige.

Comparable examples are preserved in major institutions including the Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York), the Museum of Fine Arts (Boston), and the Auckland Museum, underscoring the Totokia’s importance as one of Fiji’s most iconic weapons.

Beyond its historical reality, the Totokia has even entered popular culture: its distinctive form is said to have inspired the weapons of the Tusken Raiders in George Lucas’ Star Wars.

Today, this fine Totokia—with its superb patina—stands as both a striking collector’s piece and a lasting testament to Fijian craftsmanship, martial tradition, and artistic imagination.