Skip to main content
Items Similar to Club, Kanak Bird Beak (kana), 19th Century, New Caledonia
Two Ceremonial Weapon from Highlands of Papua New Guinea Provenance
Two Ceremonial Weapon from Highlands of Papua New Guinea Provenance
Tonga Pakipaki War Club, Polynesia, 18th Century
Tonga Pakipaki War Club, Polynesia, 18th Century
Genuine ax with copper blade from the Songye tribe DR Congo, early 1900
Genuine ax with copper blade from the Songye tribe DR Congo, early 1900
Javanese Birdman Walking Stick from Wood, C. 1900
Javanese Birdman Walking Stick from Wood, C. 1900
Ironwood Root Carved War Club
Ironwood Root Carved War Club
Early Twentieth-Century Chokwe Title Staff Resembling a Bird, Angola
Early Twentieth-Century Chokwe Title Staff Resembling a Bird, Angola
Video Loading
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 9

Club, Kanak Bird Beak (kana), 19th Century, New Caledonia

$1,357.13
£1,005.28
€1,130
CA$1,856.89
A$2,020.44
CHF 1,069.80
MX$24,307.26
NOK 13,584.05
SEK 12,428.45
DKK 8,611.53

About the Item

"Club, Kanak Bird Beak (kana), 19th Century, New Caledonia" 19th-Century Kanak War Club (Kana) Origin: New Caledonia (Kanak People, Melanesia) Date: 19th century Material: Hardwood (likely Casuarina or Ironwood) Dimensions: Length 75 cm × Width 32.5 cm Condition: Very good, with rich patina, signs of use, and an old fracture visible in the photos Description A sculptural and powerful Kana war club from the Kanak people of New Caledonia, dated to the 19th century. Entirely hand-carved from a single piece of dense tropical hardwood, the club exhibits the iconic L-shaped form, designed for forceful close-combat strikes. The striking head features a stylized bird’s beak motif, symbolizing ancestral protection, status, and warrior authority. The overall balance and flow of the form reflect both aesthetic refinement and martial utility. The shaft bears a rich, aged patina, with visible signs of authentic handling. There is an old break near the head of the club (see photos); stable and unrepaired, this flaw does not compromise the integrity of the piece and speaks to its long history. No modern restorations. Cultural Context The Kana was more than a weapon—it was a symbol of rank and ancestral connection, used in ritual dances, formal exchanges, and as part of a chief’s regalia. Bird-headed clubs were reserved for high-status individuals and carried deep spiritual resonance. Comparable examples are housed in major museum collections, including the Musée du Quai Branly, British Museum, and Australian Museum.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 29.53 in (75 cm)Width: 12.8 in (32.5 cm)Depth: 1.78 in (4.5 cm)
  • Style:
    Tribal (Of the Period)
  • Materials and Techniques:
    Wood,Hand-Carved
  • Place of Origin:
    New Caledonia
  • Period:
    19th Century
  • Date of Manufacture:
    19th century
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use. normag age traces.
  • Seller Location:
    Bilzen, BE
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU10361246027042

More From This Seller

View All
Genuine ax with copper blade from the Songye tribe DR Congo, early 1900
By Songye Tribe
Located in Bilzen, BE
A genuine ax from the Songye tribe DR Congo, copper around wooden handle and with a heavy copper blade. The axes with a copper blade are much more rare then those from iron Hammered ...
Category

Early 20th Century Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Copper

Genuine ax with copper blade from the Songye tribe DR Congo, early 1900

Genuine ax with copper blade from the Songye tribe DR Congo, early 1900

$708
Warrior ax, adze from the Fang tribe, Gabon, 19th century
Located in Bilzen, BE
An warior axe from the Fang tribe (Gabon) with a rich aged using patina from the 19th century Totally uncleaned blade Length wooden handle 49 cm, iron blade 15.5 x 10.5 cm Tribal pat...
Category

Antique 19th Century Gabonese Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Wrought Iron

Warrior ax, adze from the Fang tribe, Gabon, 19th century

Warrior ax, adze from the Fang tribe, Gabon, 19th century

$1,801
Pende Whistle – Congo (drc), Late 19th – Early 20th Century
Located in Bilzen, BE
Early carved wooden whistle from the Pende people, south-western Democratic Republic of the Congo. The piece displays a stylised anthropomorphic form typical of Pende art, with arche...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Congolese Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

Pende Whistle – Congo (drc), Late 19th – Early 20th Century

Pende Whistle – Congo (drc), Late 19th – Early 20th Century

$540
Tribal Wooden Spoon – Philippines, Early 20th Century, Whale Tail Motif
Located in Bilzen, BE
A superb hand-carved tribal spoon from the northern Philippines (Cordillera region), dating from the early 20th century. Made of tropical hardwood, it displays a beautiful dark patin...
Category

Early 20th Century Philippine Folk Art Scholar s Objects

Materials

Wood

Tribal Wooden Spoon – Philippines, Early 20th Century, Whale Tail Motif

Tribal Wooden Spoon – Philippines, Early 20th Century, Whale Tail Motif

$408
Early 20th Century Lobi Tribal Chair – Burkina Faso
By Lobi People
Located in Bilzen, BE
A rare and beautifully aged Lobi tribal chair from Burkina Faso, dating to the early 1900s. Hand-carved from a single piece of hardwood, this sculptural piece reflects the refined mi...
Category

Early 20th Century Burkinabe Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

Early 20th Century Lobi Tribal Chair – Burkina Faso

Early 20th Century Lobi Tribal Chair – Burkina Faso

$780 / item
Genuine carved wooden spoon from the Kulango people, Cote d Ivoire, early 20th C
Located in Bilzen, BE
A genuine wooden spoon from the Kulango people Cote d'Ivoire, from the early 20th century These spoons are also get used as a pestle These spoons are also said to originate with the ...
Category

Early 20th Century Ivorian Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

Genuine carved wooden spoon from the Kulango people, Cote d Ivoire, early 20th C

Genuine carved wooden spoon from the Kulango people, Cote d Ivoire, early 20th C

$576

You May Also Like

Two Ceremonial Weapon from Highlands of Papua New Guinea Provenance
Located in Atlanta, GA
Two Oceanic ceremonial weapons from PNG highlands circa 20th century. It consists of two pieces. The first is an ax with a wood shaft and a flat elongated he...
Category

Mid-20th Century Papua New Guinean Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Rattan, Wood

Two Ceremonial Weapon from Highlands of Papua New Guinea Provenance

Two Ceremonial Weapon from Highlands of Papua New Guinea Provenance

$2,500
Tonga Pakipaki War Club, Polynesia, 18th Century
Located in Delft, NL
A Tonga Pakipaki war club, Polynesia, 18th century An exceptional ironwood war club originating from Tonga, Polynesia. 18th century and hand carved with complex geometric patterns running the length of the shaft. 4 human and 1 botanical glyphs and a extra carving, see details in picture 2 The Tongan war club...
Category

Antique 18th Century Polynesian Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

Tonga Pakipaki War Club, Polynesia, 18th Century

Tonga Pakipaki War Club, Polynesia, 18th Century

$33,627
Javanese Birdman Walking Stick from Wood, C. 1900
Located in Jimbaran, Bali
This hand-crafted walking stick originates from the island of Java, Indonesia around the turn of the 19th Century. It features hand-carved detailing of a male figure with an extraord...
Category

Early 20th Century Indonesian Other Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Wood

Javanese Birdman Walking Stick from Wood, C. 1900

Javanese Birdman Walking Stick from Wood, C. 1900

$745
Ironwood Root Carved War Club
Located in London, GB
Gunstock shaped war club ‘Sali’. Ironwood root carved with traditional motifs. An excellent example, mounted on a custom stand in patinated bronze. Measure...
Category

Vintage 1980s Fijian Tribal Art

Materials

Iron

Ironwood Root Carved War Club

Ironwood Root Carved War Club

$2,698
Early Twentieth-Century Chokwe Title Staff Resembling a Bird, Angola
Located in London, GB
Resembling the upturned beak of a bird, the shape of this early twentieth-century title staff from the Chokwe culture in Angola exhibits a beautiful, simplistic form. A series of not...
Category

Early 20th Century Angolan Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

Early Twentieth-Century Chokwe Title Staff Resembling a Bird, Angola

Early Twentieth-Century Chokwe Title Staff Resembling a Bird, Angola

$1,308
19th Century French Wooden Bird Lure On Metal Stand
Located in High Point, NC
This 19th-century French wooden bird lure is an exceptional artifact of rural craftsmanship, once used in traditional bird hunting. Hand-carved from solid wood, the crescent-shaped t...
Category

Antique 19th Century French Historical Memorabilia

Materials

Wood

19th Century French Wooden Bird Lure On Metal Stand

19th Century French Wooden Bird Lure On Metal Stand

$595

More Ways To Browse

Miao Silver
Papua New Guinea Painted Wood Mask
Spoon Tribal
Wooden Tribal Statue
African Spoon
Ashanti Gold
Carved Polynesian
Fetish Tribal
Kuba Mask
New Guinea Shield
Thai Antique Bracelet
Tribal Fang
Tribal Wooden Bowl
West African Mask
African Carved Doors
African Dance Mask
African Flag
African Mask Collection
View All Popular Tribal Art Searches