Fine Fijian Pole Clubs with Incised Designs

Two fine Fijian pole clubs, 19th century; both with fine incised designs on lower section of the clubs, the butts of both clubs are concave, one pierced for fibre strap and retaining an old collection number 58:297, both with fine old reddish brown patina overall. Provenance: Robert Henry Pulleine (1869-1935); physician and naturalist, born in New Zealand, spent his childhood in Fiji, the family moved to Adelaide in 1881. In the South Australian Museum he developed his interest in natural science, he taught at the Adelaide collegiate school before entering the University of Adelaide in 1892, completing his medical training at the University of Sydney medical school (M.B, Ch.M, 1898) and Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. From 1900 Pulliene worked at the Queensland mining town of Gympie, he took his family to Gottingen, Germany in 1905 to study diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat, after further study in Britain, he returned in 1907 to Adelaide to become a highly respected consultant in the diseases. Pulliene's practice supported his interests, particularly collecting trips to Tasmania and Central Australia. His valuable collection of books, Aboriginal artefacts and paintings were housed in a twenty-two room house in Nertheby, SA. Pulliene published many medical and scientific pamphlets and articles overseas and in Australia. He died of pneumonia in 1935. His extensive library and ethnographic collection were auctioned, part of his collection had been exhibited at the South Australian Centennial Exhibition in 1936 and the South Australian Museum bought some of the Australian ethnologia. A large collection of Pulleine's Aboriginal ethnographic material had been sold to Scandinavia in the 1920s. 102 cm,105.5 cm (2)