i Ula Tavatava (Throwing club)

i Ula. Throwing club. i Ula are carved from the rootstock of a hardwood tree. It is intended as a weapon that can be gripped in the hand or thrown in short range distances at assailants. This i Ula appears to be made in modern times. It consists of a lobed head and long slender adjoining handle. The head is carved into three tiers of fine concentric lobes topped with a flanged central dome. The tapered handle is inlayed with small pearl shell of square, triangular, star shaped pieces around the upper area while the lower area is carved with tavatava (shallow incisions), zigzag in design. The handle flares slightly towards the butt. The butt has an eight-pointed star of pearl shell inlay inserted into the wood. The i Ula is dark brown in colour and has a glossy patina.