A small African axe for coments

[fernando]

Frankly, i wasn't going to buy this, buy i counter-offered a (bargain?) price and the seller immediately let it go.
Can the Forumites tell where this is from ?
I guess it is a cerimonial item and not an efective weapon (tool), judging by the blade ends; but what do i know?
The previous owner had covered both blade and handle with varnish, which i removed with celulose solvent. However there is a kind of a white round paint in one of the blade sides, that resisted (mussle) removal; could this be an intentional mark ? well, i don't think so, but wonder why it doesn't come off with such a strong solvent
Thanks a lot for your coments
Fernando

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[Freddy]

Nice axe, Fernando.

I think it's Tshokwe (or Tschokwe, Chokwe) from the border region of Congo and Angola.

The white mark could well be a ceremonial addition. Sometimes one encounters Congolese weapons with white and red colouring.

The fact that this piece was lacquered doesn't bother me. A gallery owner from Brussels once told me that this is often found on older pieces coming from colonial collections. They did it to protect their pieces (also statues, etc...)

[Lew]

Fernando you did good that's a nice old axe I have one with the same dots on it.


Lew

[fernando]

Thanks as lot for your coment and for the info, Freddy,
I also do varnish my piece blades, some times, to preserve them from rust.
But this one was much too shining. I have now oiled the blade and liquid wax the handle; it looks more discrete.

Thank you for the kind words, Lew.
So good you showed your nice example with the dots, which were a riddle to me.


By old, you mean 19th century ... or not that old :) ?

Fernando

[Lew]

Fernando

1930s I don't think 19th century the patina on the wood doesn't look that deep/old. 19th and early 20th century African axes,clubs and spears have a deep lusturous patina to the wood similar to fine old furniture. Here is another picture of another axe late 19th century that exhibits the patina I was talking about.

Lew

[fernando]

Much obliged Lew, for your coments and for sharing another superb example.
In any case, if ever my piece had some patina, it would be gone by the time i washed it with the solvent to take off that glossy varnish or, better saying, has even 'dismissed' when they applied such varnish.
I will file it as dated 1900's ... just to be nice to my self ;)
Fernando