Indian Clubs
Indian Clubs were a popular form of exercise and sport for men, women and children in America from the 1860's through the 1930's. "The Indian Club can be traced to one of the most ancient weapons in India, the war club, or gada, a symbol of invincible physical prowess and worldly power" according to Alice Hoffman in her book Indian Clubs.
During the 19th century merchants, missionaries, travelers, and officers of the British army stationed in India gave accounts of Indian-club swinging as a recreational sport and a means of developing physical strength. The clubs vary in weight according the strength of the person using them, and in length to about 2-1/2 feet. In use, they expand the chest and exercise every muscle in the body concurrently.
Recognizing the beneficial character of this type of athletic training, Indian clubs came to America in 1861, introduced by Sim D. Kehoe, a well-known American proponent of exercise and manufacturer of gymnastic equipment. Convinced he had found the perfect exercise, he refined the shape of the Indian Club and in 1862, began to manufacture and sell the clubs to the public. Soon, they became the rage and part of most athletic regimens that lasted well into the 1930's and they were found as exercise equipment in gyms throughout the country.
We now tend to view them as Folk Art . . . recognizing the many pleasing forms and decorations on them. Some are painted using graining, freehand painting or stenciling. Others are laminated or encrusted with brass tacks or even buttons. As stated by Alice Hoffman in her book, Indian Clubs, "The maker's ability to combine functionalism with the qualities of sculptural vigor and artistic inventiveness in the finished product is what elevates Indian Clubs to the level of folk art."
While the majority of Indian Clubs one encounters are generally quite plain, we were fortunate to purchase these from a long time collection and are pleased to offer a fine selection of "special" and unusual clubs for the collector or a great start for a beginning collector. Clubs of this quality do not come along every day.
| Paint Decorated Indian Clubs, Gold and Silver with Gold Sprig Decoration 18-1/2" tall with thin graceful proportions. R07A06067 $850.00 | Red and Black Painted Indian Clubs with the top left natural to allow for the bold grain of the wood to provide an additional decorative element. Brass caps are found on the top of the clubs. 20" tall R07A06307 $785.00 |
| Wonderful and RARE Black, Gold and Bronze Painted Indian Clubs. A Pair and a Spare but the Spare is RARE with a compartment that opens to contain 2 batteries that provide power to three carved out areas that held tiny lightbulbs. I would have loved to see the routine in which these clubs were used They are very lightweight with wonderful paint decoration, mostly intact. 18" tall R07A06578 $1050.00 | Laminated Indian Clubs made of Walnut and Figured Maple. 17 inches tall R07A06885 $950.00 |
