strange spear / lance
 

Is anybody familiar with this design ? what was the utility of these brass pieces ?

tks.

BV

Based on the socket decoration, this spearhead probably comes from the Sahel or the Mandara mountains. The brass plates almost certainly have some ceremonial or cult significance, but I personally do not know what exactly. Very attractive piece, thanks for sharing.

A most interesting and unusual African spearhead. Probably a high status prestige item from West Africa.

The closest example I can find is in the "Oldman Collection Catalogue of Ethnographical Specimens", that has similar curly metal protusions to the blade. It describes it as from Mendiland (Sierra Leone), and "used by Chief Bigi".

Thanks for posting.