A Most Scarce Antique Australian Aboriginal Throwing Club, Carved Head

Nulla Nulla, Aboriginal, short, possibly mulga wood, very dense hardwood, throwing club with ovoid shaped head, used for hunting, fighting and ceremonial purposes, [South East] Australia, 1860. A waddy, nulla nulla or hunting stick is an Aboriginal Australian club for use in hunting and fighting. The first of these names comes from the Dharuk Aborigines of Port Jackson, Sydney. A waddy is a heavy, pointed club constructed of carved timber. Waddies have been used in hand-to-hand combat, and were capable of splitting a shield, and killing or stunning prey. In addition to this they could be employed as a projectile as well as used to make fire and make ochre. They found further use in punishing those who broke Aboriginal law, which often involved settling a conflict between individuals, or between an individual and a group, in a 'Trial by Ordeal' in which fighters gave and suffered heavy blows resulting in skull and bone fractures and much blood