Incised Mallet/Club From Africa?
 

Hi all

Picked this up today can't place it though. Any opinions on what tribe?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...ayphotohosting

Lew

Nice looking item. I do not think it is a weapon but it looks very tactile. If I had seen it in a market I might even have paid double :cool: . I think it is South American.

Hi Lew,
no idea as to origins.....but intriqued by the 'pommel' end ...certainly looks like something was fitted there. Does seem to be some sort of mallet.... perhaps for leather work. The missing piece .... possibly a small metal spike that was used as an awl ... :shrug: or maybe a small counter weight was fitted there(to balance the mallet) for intricate carving ......bit of a puzzle :confused:


Regards David

Katana

I think it is some type or pestle or not cracker the bottom is flattened and shows wear. Look at the picture in the auction.

I AGREE IT IS PROBABLY SOME TYPE OF PESTLE FOR POUNDING AND GRINDING SOMETHING. AS TO WHERE IT ORIGINATED I DON'T HAVE A CLUE AS I HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING QUITE LIKE IT. I WOULD HAVE BOUGHT IT AT THAT PRICE REGARDLESS AS IT IS A INTERESTING, WELL MADE NEAT ITEM, CONGRADULATIONS. THE ONLY SUGGESTION FOR PINNING IT DOWN MORE WOULD TO GET SOMEONE WHO KNOWS A LOT ABOUT BEADS TO LOOK AT THEM TO SEE IF THEY RECOGNIZE THE TYPE. GOOD LUCK

Hi Lew,
I had noticed the wear to the bottom area, but also noticed that the head seems to have a slightly flattened face, a pestle would normally be perfectly round (cross section). As the handle section seems 'turned' (on a lathe ?) and round ...this 'flattened' section seems deliberate and I thought 'mallet'. A pestle also usually has a 'flared' handle so that it is comfortable to apply downward pressure as you 'grind' ... your one tapers.

Having said all that, the use of a pestle to prepare softer vegetation, herbs etc for medicine, tonics etc could be done with such an implement, but feel that the lower section would be highly stained with the oils released from the plants after regular use.

Regards David

Katana

This item arrived a few days ago and I noticed the bottom has some dark stains on it. Under closer examination I feel this object was used to mash some type of vegetation probably in a larger wooden bowl. I still can't place it's origin I think it could be Native American? I will post some me pics today.




Lew