Ashante dance knife?

Tim Simmons · 24th January 2011, 04:51 PM

No 2 looks as if it has been made from a button slide? No 7 I have no idea. They are surley fairly modern with the engineer machining. The Ashante version tend to have a more bulbus top and bottom to the handle, perhaps they are Benin as in old Dahomey?

P.S.

They do have the same form as those seen in Dahomey art and on the Kings palace walls. Here are two of mine. The symbolic cutlass seems to have many versions all alone the old trade coast.

VANDOO · 24th January 2011, 05:47 PM

HERE ARE A FEW MORE PICTURES TWO WERE IDENTIFIED AS FROM GHANNA, IVORY COAST, ONE BEING 50 INCHES LONG. THE LARGE ONES ARE USED AS SWORDS OF STATE AND THE KING AND OTHER IMPORTANT PEOPLE WERE ALLOWED TO HAVE THEM. THE HANDLES WERE OFTEN COVERED IN GOLD LEAF AND HAD TAILSMEN IN THE SHAPE OF VARIOUS ANIMALS IN GOLD. I USED TO HAVE SOME PICTURES OF SUCH SWORDS AND KINGS BUT THE COMPUTER ATE THEM.

YOUR EXAMPLES ARE MODERN OF A SMALLER SIZE AND NOT MADE IN THE TRADITIONAL WAY SO WOULD NOT QUALIFY AS SWORD OF STATE. BUT THEY ARE INTERESTING IN THEIR OWN RIGHT. I WONDER IF THERE WAS A SET #1 THROUGH 20 PERHAPS EACH WITH A DIFFERENT PATTERN OF PIERCINGS IN THE BLADE, OR IF THE NUMBER DESIGNATED THE MEMBER OF A SECRET SOCIETY OR LODGE. ITS ALWAYS FUN TO SPECULATE ON SUCH ITEMS AND WONDER WHAT WAS THE INTENT OF THE MAKERS OR THOSE WHO USED THEM. EITHER WAY THEY ARE PURELY FOR CEREMONY OR DANCE NOT ACTUAL WORK. WELCOME TO THE FORUM FACTS AND GUESSES FOR FREE!!!

24th January 2011, 05:47 PM	#2
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	HERE ARE A FEW MORE PICTURES TWO WERE IDENTIFIED AS FROM GHANNA, IVORY COAST, ONE BEING 50 INCHES LONG. THE LARGE ONES ARE USED AS SWORDS OF STATE AND THE KING AND OTHER IMPORTANT PEOPLE WERE ALLOWED TO HAVE THEM. THE HANDLES WERE OFTEN COVERED IN GOLD LEAF AND HAD TAILSMEN IN THE SHAPE OF VARIOUS ANIMALS IN GOLD. I USED TO HAVE SOME PICTURES OF SUCH SWORDS AND KINGS BUT THE COMPUTER ATE THEM. YOUR EXAMPLES ARE MODERN OF A SMALLER SIZE AND NOT MADE IN THE TRADITIONAL WAY SO WOULD NOT QUALIFY AS SWORD OF STATE. BUT THEY ARE INTERESTING IN THEIR OWN RIGHT. I WONDER IF THERE WAS A SET #1 THROUGH 20 PERHAPS EACH WITH A DIFFERENT PATTERN OF PIERCINGS IN THE BLADE, OR IF THE NUMBER DESIGNATED THE MEMBER OF A SECRET SOCIETY OR LODGE. ITS ALWAYS FUN TO SPECULATE ON SUCH ITEMS AND WONDER WHAT WAS THE INTENT OF THE MAKERS OR THOSE WHO USED THEM. EITHER WAY THEY ARE PURELY FOR CEREMONY OR DANCE NOT ACTUAL WORK. WELCOME TO THE FORUM FACTS AND GUESSES FOR FREE!!! Attached Images

24th January 2011, 04:51 PM	#1
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,855	No 2 looks as if it has been made from a button slide? No 7 I have no idea. They are surley fairly modern with the engineer machining. The Ashante version tend to have a more bulbus top and bottom to the handle, perhaps they are Benin as in old Dahomey? P.S. They do have the same form as those seen in Dahomey art and on the Kings palace walls. Here are two of mine. The symbolic cutlass seems to have many versions all alone the old trade coast. Attached Images Last edited by Tim Simmons; 24th January 2011 at 05:14 PM. Reason: Adding.