Old fish-lungfish scepter club,

francantolin · Yesterday, 02:44 PM

Hello dear members,
I found this original club, a fish or lungfish scepter club, which I fell in love with for its original shape and its pretty substantial weight, 1.1 kg /2,4 pounds and 50 cm / 19,7 inches long. Early-mid 20th century ?
A mixture of carved hardwood and metal parts makes it look African, but the wood looks more like Oceanic ironwood. I haven't seen anything like it.
I don't think it's made for fishermen to stun large fish out of the water, more as a ritual object, but given its weight, it must cause some damage if used...
Any idea about origîn and age ?

Tim Simmons · Yesterday, 04:05 PM

Nice looks West African to me. Ritual ? Rather like a Recade. Symbol of rebirth coming alive with the rain? like it a lot cannot be that common.

francantolin · Yesterday, 06:20 PM

Thank’s a lot Tim for your message !!

Looking for fish symbolism in Wedt Africa
I found these interesting informations in a nice book ,
Yes it may be a Recade from Dahomey ,
maybe of Gbéhanzin king or made durîng same périod ? Cf pictures.
He was represented as a shark or a freshwater fish .

Cf picture of the shark statue from Quai Branly Muséum in Paris

If it is a lungfish, yes it make sense to be associated with rebirth, long life and rain.

francantolin · Yesterday, 06:26 PM

Here again ,
the cover of the book but with the right size ...
👍👍

Yesterday, 02:44 PM	#1
francantolin Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 920	Old fish-lungfish scepter club, Hello dear members, I found this original club, a fish or lungfish scepter club, which I fell in love with for its original shape and its pretty substantial weight, 1.1 kg /2,4 pounds and 50 cm / 19,7 inches long. Early-mid 20th century ? A mixture of carved hardwood and metal parts makes it look African, but the wood looks more like Oceanic ironwood. I haven't seen anything like it. I don't think it's made for fishermen to stun large fish out of the water, more as a ritual object, but given its weight, it must cause some damage if used... Any idea about origîn and age ? Attached Images

Yesterday, 06:20 PM	#3
francantolin Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 920	Thank’s a lot Tim for your message !! Looking for fish symbolism in Wedt Africa I found these interesting informations in a nice book , Yes it may be a Recade from Dahomey , maybe of Gbéhanzin king or made durîng same périod ? Cf pictures. He was represented as a shark or a freshwater fish . Cf picture of the shark statue from Quai Branly Muséum in Paris If it is a lungfish, yes it make sense to be associated with rebirth, long life and rain. Attached Images

Yesterday, 06:26 PM	#4
francantolin Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 920	Here again , the cover of the book but with the right size ... 👍👍 Attached Images

Yesterday, 04:05 PM	#2
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,895	Nice looks West African to me. Ritual ? Rather like a Recade. Symbol of rebirth coming alive with the rain? like it a lot cannot be that common.