Recently finished on eBay.... Zulu ?

[katana]

Hi
this recently finished on eBay....another Zulu item, I have my own thoughts.... but was curious as to the thoughts and comments of others

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=200253594770&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=010

Thank you

Regards David

[colin henshaw]

Hi David

I think its from further north - one of the Shona group of tribes, maybe an nganga's (diviner's) piece.

Regards
Colin

[katana]

Hi Colin :) ,
I agree that its unlikely to be Zulu, Shona a good possibility. Seller sold this as a weapon :confused: With the axe section passing through the shaft and the tang of the spearhead coming in from the top ...the wood section would be very weak. I thought ceremonial ..... but very interested in your suggestion of a divination 'tool', do you know of any examples that you could post ?
A little concerned that the piece is not as old as the 19th C stated. The wood haft has little patination and the 'circle' design looks quite 'fresh' ...but that maybe just the pictures.

The spearhead interested me, as I have not seen 'barbs' on the metal shafts of spears from South Africa ...again if anyone has any examples please post them.

Kind Regards David

[colin henshaw]

I don't have a decent digital camera at present, but a couple of references are :-

Barrie Reynolds "The Material Culture of the Peoples of the Gwembe Valley" 1966, Page 104, fig 25.

South African website www.ezakwantu.com has a similar-type piece.

I shall try to find some more and post them.

Regards, Colin

[katana]

Hi Colin,
thanks for the link....its now in my favorites ;) There is one 'similar' example stated as Shona - Karanga related, I like this example better

Regards David

.

[Freddy]

A Dutch friend of mine has a similar piece. It's the one in the middle. I've been trying to get it into my collection for quite some time. One day, I will succeed :D :p

He thinks it comes from East-Africa.

Here's a pic :

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/keris_hanuman/107_0757.jpg