Description
In precontact times Torres Strait Islanders were fierce warriors and often engaged in battle with people from neighbouring islands, Papua New Guinea and mainland Australia.
The Gabugab was the weapon used in hand to hand fighting and was employed after the warrior’s arrows and spears had been exausted.
When engaging an opponent the warrior would shake the Gubugab causing movement of the feathers thereby distracting or mesmerising his foe.
The cross over markings on the handle represent the zig zag movement warriors would adopt when approaching the enemy which they employed to further confuse them. The dots on the handle represent a head count of the warrior’s slain opponents.
The point at the tip of the Gubugub was thrust into the motionless bodies to determine if they were indeed dead.
The Gubugab was carved from Thul wood which comes from a tree sacred to the Bizam clan of Badu Island. A ceremony is performed for the harvesting of wood from this tree. The markings on the handle have been incised and stained with mangrove sap.
(This work comes with a black metal powder coated stand)
