Erik Sappier Chip-carved Painted Root Club

Erik Sappier Chip-carved Painted Root Club

Originally used as weapons, root clubs are now used either ceremonially or to be appreciated as art. This root club depicts a man wearing a traditional Wabanaki headdress, with feathers pointing straight up. The chip-carving is of the finest order, beautifully and meticulously detailed.

Sappier makes natural colored (unpainted) as well as painted clubs. This one is in the latter category, with a painted raven, fish, and snake (?) on the root area, as well as a painted flower on the shaft. He describes his painted work as pop art.

The raw bark stands in sharp contrast with the carved and polished surfaces.

We urge you to zoom in on different parts of the club to see the fine details; even with that, the club is more impressive in person, as the bends and angles lend a lot that cannot be appreciated in photos.

19 1/2 inches long.