Assegai (Ngumba) Lwena/Tsjokwe/Lunda

Congoblades · 25th September 2012, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by colin henshaw

Fine piece. How do you intend removing the varnish ?

It's a thin layer of varnish, some rubbing with acetone on a cloth will do the job.

VANDOO · 25th September 2012, 06:43 PM

A BEAUTIFUL ITEM OF AS GOOD A QUALITY AS THE EXAMPLES IN THE BOOK. CONGRADULATIONS

ITS DIFFICULT TO TELL WHERE THE METAL ENDS AND THE WOOD BEGINS AT THE POINT ? I ASSUME THIS IS A PRESTIEGE OR EMBLEM OF RANK RATHER THAN FOR USE AS A SPEAR.

Atlantia · 26th September 2012, 01:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Congoblades

It's a thin layer of varnish, some rubbing with acetone on a cloth will do the job.

It's a very fine item and it looks to have a lovely aged patina under the varnish.
Won't acetone remove the patina as well?

Lew · 26th September 2012, 04:16 AM

I would use some #0000 Steel wool go lightly with it should take the varnish off without damaging the patina

. Then give it a buffing with a horse hair shoe brush.

Freddy · 26th September 2012, 12:24 PM

I wouldn't touch this piece. Leave the varnish on. An African arts dealer once told me that pieces dating from the years before WW II were often varnished. This was done by the European owners to protect the wood of the items in their collection from insect damage when still in Africa.

I think you have a piece with quite some age.

Pieje · 26th September 2012, 01:52 PM

I think the varnish is already gone by now...

Tim Simmons · 26th September 2012, 02:09 PM

I would love to have a spear like this with the carved figure. If it were mine I remove the varnish. I have have removed varnish several times on clubs that have cost a pretty penny. The results have been great no damage to the patina once dressed with a little olive oil. Every time I have removed the varnish it has been with heart in mouth. I use a peoduct called "nitromoors paint and varnish remover" The results have been like a trip in a time machine.

Atlantia · 26th September 2012, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Simmons

I would love to have a spear like this with the carved figure. If it were mine I remove the varnish. I have have removed varnish several times on clubs that have cost a pretty penny. The results have been great no damage to the patina once dressed with a little olive oil. Every time I have removed the varnish it has been with heart in mouth. I use a peoduct called "nitromoors paint and varnish remover" The results have been like a trip in a time machine.

Really? Nitromoors is caustic soda. You don't find it tough on the patina?

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25th September 2012, 06:43 PM	#2
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	A BEAUTIFUL ITEM OF AS GOOD A QUALITY AS THE EXAMPLES IN THE BOOK. CONGRADULATIONS ITS DIFFICULT TO TELL WHERE THE METAL ENDS AND THE WOOD BEGINS AT THE POINT ? I ASSUME THIS IS A PRESTIEGE OR EMBLEM OF RANK RATHER THAN FOR USE AS A SPEAR.

26th September 2012, 04:16 AM	#4
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	I would use some #0000 Steel wool go lightly with it should take the varnish off without damaging the patina . Then give it a buffing with a horse hair shoe brush.

26th September 2012, 12:24 PM	#5
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	I wouldn't touch this piece. Leave the varnish on. An African arts dealer once told me that pieces dating from the years before WW II were often varnished. This was done by the European owners to protect the wood of the items in their collection from insect damage when still in Africa. I think you have a piece with quite some age.

26th September 2012, 01:52 PM	#6
Pieje Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Belgium Posts: 132	I think the varnish is already gone by now...

26th September 2012, 02:09 PM	#7
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,875	I would love to have a spear like this with the carved figure. If it were mine I remove the varnish. I have have removed varnish several times on clubs that have cost a pretty penny. The results have been great no damage to the patina once dressed with a little olive oil. Every time I have removed the varnish it has been with heart in mouth. I use a peoduct called "nitromoors paint and varnish remover" The results have been like a trip in a time machine.