A rare Cook Islands spear has sold for almost 70,000 US dollars at auction in San Francisco.
Standing at just over three metres tall, the akatara is described as a Rarotongan pole club.
An American museum won the bidding war at 68,000 dollars.
The item was advertised as carved from the heart of the toa tree and was typically created for chiefs or members of high status in the community.
The Auction house, Bonhams, auctioned a similar akatara, originally from Atiu, last February, which fetched 176,000 dollars at auction - selling for more than any other Oceanic artefact on offer.
