Islamic Axe for I D and Comment

Jim McDougall · 14th June 2011, 07:28 PM

While African axes are not something I am overly familiar with, I am inclined to agree this is likely something Omani, and distinctly linked to the kinds of axes used by Bantu slavers mid 19th century both utilitarian and as weapons.
The wood seems similar to the axe which appears on Gavs site as noted, in which case the poll of the head extends through the haft.

The appears an embellished example, and the chain attached to the haft and linked to the aperture in the poll recall the chainguards on many Hadhramauti sa'ifs which would have been well known to Omani merchants in traffic to Zanzibar. The connections between the Bantu and Omani merchants in the slaving commerce is of course well established in these times.

This is plausibly the axe of a merchant of either Zanzibar or East Africa and likely an individual of status and clearly Muslim. The accoutrements of the Omani merchants were it would seem often well decorated and fashionable and this would have been a most attractively worn item.

All best regards,
Jim

Dom · 15th June 2011, 12:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

This is plausibly the axe of a merchant of either Zanzibar or East Africa and likely an individual of status and clearly Muslim. The accoutrements of the Omani merchants were it would seem often well decorated and fashionable and this would have been a most attractively worn item.

Hi Stu
I just discovered that hypothesis,
that reaches completely what I suspected

I think that should be a good track

all the best

à +

Dom

Atlantia · 15th June 2011, 01:21 AM

Well Stu,
you had faith in this from the start.
My twin theories of Ottoman coin or copy of, and North Afrcian axe bite the dust!

LOL, well done mate. A good addition to the Arabian museum

Best Humble pie,
Gene

Lew · 15th June 2011, 05:31 AM

I would think this is from one of the tribes from the Congo definitely not Omani. The coin seems to be an old add on most Congolese axes did not come with pinned down heads. I will check my books and get back to you.

Jim McDougall · 15th June 2011, 06:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lew

I would think this is from one of the tribes from the Congo definitely not Omani. The coin seems to be an old add on most Congolese axes did not come with pinned down heads. I will check my books and get back to you.

Do the Congo tribes often add the decorative chain ? I thought of the Omani's because of thier trading activity in East Africa, as well as the Banti type 'slavers' axes. The chain recalls those type chains on Hadhramauti sa'ifs, a feature likely often seen in the Arab trade routes to East Africa. This style axe in variation seems to be diffused through the Central African regions into the Sahel as far as I can see, but the decorative activity here seems Omani/East African to me.

kahnjar1 · 15th June 2011, 07:33 AM

There are two similar axes on a certain auction site, both described as Tanzanian. Tanzania is the modern name for the two countries Tanganyika and Zanzibar. I am picking Zanzibar as it has for many centuries been on the Arab trade routes.
So why not Oman, or at least a trader from there?
I did check with Gav and his comment was "african" but did not know exactly where.
Keep it going Gents. It's getting interesting.

Gavin Nugent · 15th June 2011, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kahnjar1

There are two similar axes on a certain auction site, both described as Tanzanian. Tanzania is the modern name for the two countries Tanganyika and Zanzibar. I am picking Zanzibar as it has for many centuries been on the Arab trade routes.
So why not Oman, or at least a trader from there?
I did check with Gav and his comment was "african" but did not know exactly where.
Keep it going Gents. It's getting interesting.

Hi Guys,

With out exact axe references and replying on well documented artistic imagery alone, the axe you are referring that I have, has to my eye, many traits seen in artwork/carvings from the Kpeligue, Senufo, Ivory coast.
The timber is also of a similar nature.
I'll get together references and a description this weekend family sickness permitting.
These regions were well known for Eastern and Western slave trading.

Stu, perhaps a relic for the Arabian slave trading across the Sahara/sub Sahara to these regions on the Ivory Coast.

Gav

kahnjar1 · 15th June 2011, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atlantia

Well Stu,
you had faith in this from the start.
My twin theories of Ottoman coin or copy of, and North Afrcian axe bite the dust!

LOL, well done mate. A good addition to the Arabian museum

Best Humble pie,
Gene

............I think the jury is still out..............and no humble pie required. Discussion and opinions are how we come to a result.

Gavin Nugent · 15th June 2011, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kahnjar1

............I think the jury is still out..............and no humble pie required. Discussion and opinions are how we come to a result.

Here here.....lots of pondering is still required.

Gav

Freddy · 15th June 2011, 10:58 AM

Here is a link about similar axes that were discussed on this forum :

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=3277

I'm sure your axe is Tanzanian. The owner must have been 'islamized'. Nice axe, by the way.

Freddy · 15th June 2011, 11:09 AM

and here is a picture of a man with a double-bladed axe.

In the book 'De fer et de fierté' (African weapons from the Barbier-Mueller museum) the same picture is shown.
The author says the following ; "A Zaramo man with a double-bladed axe"

In the text, accompanying the picture, is also mentioned that such axes are found over a vast area, from Lake Tanganyika upto the coast of the Indian Ocean. These axes are the insignia of old men (titleholders).
The axes with fewer decoration were used for war.

Atlantia · 15th June 2011, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kahnjar1

............I think the jury is still out..............and no humble pie required. Discussion and opinions are how we come to a result.

I'll keep it warm for later then.

But seriously. I completely agree. The search for facts is what's important. Being proven wrong by the uncovering of the truth is still a victory of knowledge over ignorance, and that's what matters

In short I'm happy to be proven wrong if I learn something.

My small addition to this particular quest is that the 'medalion' with it's laurel wreath border and islamic script is something that is reminiscent of Ottoman coins. Including far flung ones from places like Egypt and Tunisia.
These coin designs sometimes survive in odd ways long after they have become an anacronism.
Look at tokens, gaming counters and the like made in European nations?

This experience with axes recently has shown me that I need to expand my knowledge in that area.
In fact axes, spears, shaft weapons in general. Too many subtle differences I was unaware of!

Jim McDougall · 15th June 2011, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atlantia

I'll keep it warm for later then.

But seriously. I completely agree. The search for facts is what's important. Being proven wrong by the uncovering of the truth is still a victory of knowledge over ignorance, and that's what matters

In short I'm happy to be proven wrong if I learn something.

My small addition to this particular quest is that the 'medalion' with it's laurel wreath border and islamic script is something that is reminiscent of Ottoman coins. Including far flung ones from places like Egypt and Tunisia.
These coin designs sometimes survive in odd ways long after they have become an anacronism.
Look at tokens, gaming counters and the like made in European nations?

This experience with axes recently has shown me that I need to expand my knowledge in that area.
In fact axes, spears, shaft weapons in general. Too many subtle differences I was unaware of!

Gene,
I completely agree with Gav, and the whole purpose of these forums, at least as far as I understand, is to learn together by discussing. While friendly congratulations and admiration of a newly acquired weapon is pleasant and pleasing, I always look forward to those who make helpful comments and observations, especially if detailed thoughts and ideas are expressed.

Quite frankly I had not given much attention to African axes, and this one has provided great learning opportunity. Your observation on this disc or medallion or whatever it is ,perfectly well placed, and the great thing is that you always participate and are willing to learn as well, like me I look forward to other ideas, opinions and especially corrected material.

It will be interesting to see what the experts come up with on this axe, and we will all learn together as always

Keep on truckin' Gene!!!
All the best,
Jim

kahnjar1 · 16th June 2011, 07:49 AM

Thank you Gentlemen for your comments and information so far.
I would now like to make some assumptions and would like some feedback on what you think.
1.We now seem to agree that this axe is from what is now modern day Tanzania, which of course was the name given to the combined countries of Tanganyika and Zanzibar.
2. It is assumed that the language spoken in Tanganyika was some sort of african dialect.
3. Zanzibar was under the control of the Sultanate of Oman from 1698 until 1890 when the British interfered.
4. It is assumed that the language spoken in Zanzibar at that time would largely have been Arabic.
5.This axe has a cartouche in Arabic, so we assume that it "lived" in Zanzibar.
6. Assuming that the date 1307 (1889ad) on the cartouche is accurate, then this axe existed in Zanzibar under Omani rule, as the British did not take power until 1890.
If the above IS correct then this axe, although of african origin in design, is actually of Arabian (Omani) heritage.

15th June 2011, 07:33 AM	#6
kahnjar1 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND Posts: 2,818	TANZANIA?? There are two similar axes on a certain auction site, both described as Tanzanian. Tanzania is the modern name for the two countries Tanganyika and Zanzibar. I am picking Zanzibar as it has for many centuries been on the Arab trade routes. So why not Oman, or at least a trader from there? I did check with Gav and his comment was "african" but did not know exactly where. Keep it going Gents. It's getting interesting.

15th June 2011, 11:09 AM	#11
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	and here is a picture of a man with a double-bladed axe. In the book 'De fer et de fierté' (African weapons from the Barbier-Mueller museum) the same picture is shown. The author says the following ; "A Zaramo man with a double-bladed axe" In the text, accompanying the picture, is also mentioned that such axes are found over a vast area, from Lake Tanganyika upto the coast of the Indian Ocean. These axes are the insignia of old men (titleholders). The axes with fewer decoration were used for war. Attached Images

16th June 2011, 07:49 AM	#14
kahnjar1 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND Posts: 2,818	Some assumptions for discussion Thank you Gentlemen for your comments and information so far. I would now like to make some assumptions and would like some feedback on what you think. 1.We now seem to agree that this axe is from what is now modern day Tanzania, which of course was the name given to the combined countries of Tanganyika and Zanzibar. 2. It is assumed that the language spoken in Tanganyika was some sort of african dialect. 3. Zanzibar was under the control of the Sultanate of Oman from 1698 until 1890 when the British interfered. 4. It is assumed that the language spoken in Zanzibar at that time would largely have been Arabic. 5.This axe has a cartouche in Arabic, so we assume that it "lived" in Zanzibar. 6. Assuming that the date 1307 (1889ad) on the cartouche is accurate, then this axe existed in Zanzibar under Omani rule, as the British did not take power until 1890. If the above IS correct then this axe, although of african origin in design, is actually of Arabian (Omani) heritage.

14th June 2011, 07:28 PM	#1
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,736	While African axes are not something I am overly familiar with, I am inclined to agree this is likely something Omani, and distinctly linked to the kinds of axes used by Bantu slavers mid 19th century both utilitarian and as weapons. The wood seems similar to the axe which appears on Gavs site as noted, in which case the poll of the head extends through the haft. The appears an embellished example, and the chain attached to the haft and linked to the aperture in the poll recall the chainguards on many Hadhramauti sa'ifs which would have been well known to Omani merchants in traffic to Zanzibar. The connections between the Bantu and Omani merchants in the slaving commerce is of course well established in these times. This is plausibly the axe of a merchant of either Zanzibar or East Africa and likely an individual of status and clearly Muslim. The accoutrements of the Omani merchants were it would seem often well decorated and fashionable and this would have been a most attractively worn item. All best regards, Jim

15th June 2011, 01:21 AM	#3
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	Well Stu, you had faith in this from the start. My twin theories of Ottoman coin or copy of, and North Afrcian axe bite the dust! LOL, well done mate. A good addition to the Arabian museum Best Humble pie, Gene

15th June 2011, 05:31 AM	#4
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	I would think this is from one of the tribes from the Congo definitely not Omani. The coin seems to be an old add on most Congolese axes did not come with pinned down heads. I will check my books and get back to you.

15th June 2011, 10:58 AM	#10
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	Here is a link about similar axes that were discussed on this forum : http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=3277 I'm sure your axe is Tanzanian. The owner must have been 'islamized'. Nice axe, by the way.