African or oceanian wood club ? Head-face Help please

Almonzo · 4th March 2026, 01:03 PM

Good morning ,

I have this club but I dont know where it come from and how okd it is.
But it has a strong patina and must not be too young.
It is made from hard wood, and weight 800grams and is 80cm long.
It is made with one solid piece of wood.

More a weapon than a sceptre I think.

What is your opinion pkease ?

Kind regards

Almonzo

Lee · 4th March 2026, 09:11 PM

Here is a comparable African "head" club from Lew's collection:
http://vikingsword.com/lew/w1040/w1040.html

Almonzo · 5th March 2026, 07:42 AM

Thank you very much Lee !
Really nice interesting collection of this gentleman !

I found two similar models:
an old one, said to be Zulu, from South Africa,
and the other, Victorian period, Maasai ethnic group, with brass inlays,
which looks very similar to mine, especially the face + brass eyes and the patina.
The large size is also similar; mine is even larger, which is apparently rare.
Does the Maasai origin seem correct to you?
Does anyone have any idea what kind of wood was used to make this type of club?

Tim Simmons · 6th March 2026, 11:37 AM

Just remembered in amongst all my junk I have this example which I believe is from the Gabon Fang people. Features remind me and have similarity to Fang reliquary boxe figures. 53cm long, possibly a throwing club/mace especially when seen next to a Solomon Island/Vanuatu throwing club. Has some similarity to the thread starter??

Almonzo · 7th March 2026, 02:20 PM

Thank you very much !

I put two other pictures of the one I have and another club said to be from Tanzania.

Difficult to find really simiar models.

Tim Simmons · Yesterday, 04:34 PM

I think unless one really has proof of origin, this is when you just central African.

4th March 2026, 01:03 PM	#1
Almonzo Member Join Date: Jan 2026 Posts: 12	African or oceanian wood club ? Head-face Help please Good morning , I have this club but I dont know where it come from and how okd it is. But it has a strong patina and must not be too young. It is made from hard wood, and weight 800grams and is 80cm long. It is made with one solid piece of wood. More a weapon than a sceptre I think. What is your opinion pkease ? Kind regards Almonzo Attached Images

5th March 2026, 07:42 AM	#3
Almonzo Member Join Date: Jan 2026 Posts: 12	Thank you very much Lee ! Really nice interesting collection of this gentleman ! I found two similar models: an old one, said to be Zulu, from South Africa, and the other, Victorian period, Maasai ethnic group, with brass inlays, which looks very similar to mine, especially the face + brass eyes and the patina. The large size is also similar; mine is even larger, which is apparently rare. Does the Maasai origin seem correct to you? Does anyone have any idea what kind of wood was used to make this type of club? Attached Images

6th March 2026, 11:37 AM	#4
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,967	Just remembered in amongst all my junk I have this example which I believe is from the Gabon Fang people. Features remind me and have similarity to Fang reliquary boxe figures. 53cm long, possibly a throwing club/mace especially when seen next to a Solomon Island/Vanuatu throwing club. Has some similarity to the thread starter?? Attached Images Last edited by Tim Simmons; 6th March 2026 at 12:15 PM. Reason: Adding photos

7th March 2026, 02:20 PM	#5
Almonzo Member Join Date: Jan 2026 Posts: 12	Thank you very much ! I put two other pictures of the one I have and another club said to be from Tanzania. Difficult to find really simiar models. Attached Images

4th March 2026, 09:11 PM	#2
Lee EAAF Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Upstate New York, USA Posts: 993	Here is a comparable African "head" club from Lew's collection: http://vikingsword.com/lew/w1040/w1040.html

Yesterday, 04:34 PM	#6
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,967	I think unless one really has proof of origin, this is when you just central African.