Benin Knife

Tim Simmons · 10th January 2009, 09:44 PM

Rod, it is an attractive souvenir and a nice reminder of your trip. The sellers have the wrong idea as to its origin which is telling. In my opinion it is not rare or old. Is it real cultural piece? well I suppose it could be. All I can say is that the figures on the handle do not appeal to me one bit, same with the blade. I do not like the patina either.

Looking again I am sure the top part of the handle, the figures, are from a mould so to make lots of them. Look and you can see the flashing round the edges and the supposed hand coiled wax is all smudged and very poor so I will say buy something else. There must be real crafts people around perhaps a nice piece of pottery?

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10th January 2009, 09:44 PM	#12
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,844	Rod, it is an attractive souvenir and a nice reminder of your trip. The sellers have the wrong idea as to its origin which is telling. In my opinion it is not rare or old. Is it real cultural piece? well I suppose it could be. All I can say is that the figures on the handle do not appeal to me one bit, same with the blade. I do not like the patina either. Looking again I am sure the top part of the handle, the figures, are from a mould so to make lots of them. Look and you can see the flashing round the edges and the supposed hand coiled wax is all smudged and very poor so I will say buy something else. There must be real crafts people around perhaps a nice piece of pottery?