African Visayan sword!

Robert · 22nd November 2012, 03:48 AM

Hello Detlef, and congratulations on your new acquisition. I have seen this style of blade before on older as well as later pieces dating up to WWII. Your example though I believe would date to the early twentieth century. I base this mostly on the styling and detailed tooling on the leather scabbard which you do not normally see on the later pieces. I agree with Jose that the eyes were more than likely made of bone held in place by small nails, one of which can still be seen in the eye socket in the close-up of the face carving. The face itself to me does have the appearance of that of a monkey and the missing nose was probably short with flared nostrils. This is just MHO though and I will be most interested in hearing more from the experts on this very interesting item. Again, my congratulations on a great score.

Regards,
Robert

P.S.
I cannot believe I missed this one.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Switch to Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Threaded Mode

22nd November 2012, 03:48 AM	#6
Robert EAAF Staff Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Centerville, Kansas Posts: 2,196	Hello Detlef, and congratulations on your new acquisition. I have seen this style of blade before on older as well as later pieces dating up to WWII. Your example though I believe would date to the early twentieth century. I base this mostly on the styling and detailed tooling on the leather scabbard which you do not normally see on the later pieces. I agree with Jose that the eyes were more than likely made of bone held in place by small nails, one of which can still be seen in the eye socket in the close-up of the face carving. The face itself to me does have the appearance of that of a monkey and the missing nose was probably short with flared nostrils. This is just MHO though and I will be most interested in hearing more from the experts on this very interesting item. Again, my congratulations on a great score. Regards, Robert P.S. I cannot believe I missed this one.