Anonymous Camp Wenecheag Folk Art War Club.
American. 1932.
Inscribed "Ben 1932 Camp Wenecheag".
Signed, dated and titled.
Carved, painted and stained wood.
Overall length 38".
Very good vintage condition with wear commensurate with age and usage.
Provenance: Jim and Ilona Fleming.
The Mike Dale Collection.
Est. $300-$500.
Ship: $65

The Camp Wenecheag Folk Art War Club offered here is a sentimental reminder of a bygone era. While most summer campers spent their hours in woodshop making toy boats, cars, bird houses, trays, and (for the truly industrious) chess boards, young camper Ben made himself a massive war club! The war club appears to have been made from a birch tree sapling, roots and all. Sections of the birch bark have been cut away in Indian-like designs with bare sections painted with gold and dark red paint. The inscriptions "Ben," "1932," and "Camp Wenecheag" have been neatly carved into the birch bark, painted red, and outlined in black to make them stand out. The top of the cane features a carved figure who looks for all the world like George Washington, with long golden hair and statesmanlike features. Sadly, Camp Wenecheag, which was located in the Boston, Massachusetts area, no longer exists.