A Saturday afternoon African riddle

Iain · 18th June 2011, 12:52 PM

Hi Martin,

Thanks for your kind words. I am finally branching out from just owning takoubas!

I am not entirely sure this is Lobi, although it definitely was in their possession. The form just seems wrong for the area, the work not characteristic of that people group.

I would also normally be quick to call it a Mandara sword, but that seems geographically a little far away for this example which most certainly was found in Burkina Faso.

I am still trying to clean off all the rust and scale. It is proving to be a very stubborn little thing. Meanwhile my quest for a true Mandara sword continues...

Cheers,

Iain

Iain · 25th March 2012, 02:59 PM

About time I updated this thread. My restoration was stalled by cold weather and an outdoor workshop. But now spring is returning and it has been warm enough in the last weeks to work on this sword.

I have to say this piece should have some good age because the level of scale on it was (and is) incredible. As most of you know I am usually in the school of do almost nothing to pieces in my collection. But in this particular case the corrosion was deep enough it needed to be cleaned as much as possible.

I started with light treatments of pineapple juice, then I tried coke... Nothing was moving. Absolutely nothing. I was cautious to use more aggressive methods because there was a good chance parts of the blade were unstable, however with a very slow process of vinegar and carefully monitoring the application each hour I made a lot of progress. The scaling that remains needs a little work, but is so deeply in place I am hesitant to do much more to it.

I was told by the seller this sword came directly from the Lobi, but the sword does not seem characteristic of that group... It is possible they acquired it by other means as several kingdoms in the area raided the Lobi (such as the Kénédougou Kingdom).

Obviously I want to clean up the sword a little more but I am quite happy with my progress and wanted to show it off as I think it is quite an unusual piece.

Martin Lubojacky · 27th March 2012, 11:18 AM

Hi Iain,
Regarding the hilt, I would suggest to clean it with soft brass brush in hot water solution of soda saleratus in aluminium pot (mechanical cleaning + electrolytical reaction). You would remove all impurities and the surface would have uniform, not shiny colour (it could be shiny immediately after the cleaning, but it would receive soft yellow colour in a few days again, after such treatement).
Regards,
Martin

Iain · 27th March 2012, 11:26 AM

Hi Martin,

I will maybe try it. I am undecided if I prefer to leave it looking old with this patina so it will match the blade better (since the blade will never look perfect I think)?

Do you have some suggestion where to find the brass brushes in CZ?

Martin Lubojacky · 27th March 2012, 12:35 PM

Any hardware store (or OBI, Hornbach etc), but you also need more gentle brushes, so it is better to contact suppliers of goldsmiths through internet (you will "google" it). Goldsmiths use iron brushes, but very very soft ones(and also expensive in comparision what you can find in hardware store)
Regards,
Martin

Iain · 27th March 2012, 12:38 PM

Thanks Martin, I've tried looking in my local OBI before but never found anything soft enough. I will try with the jewelry suppliers online.

25th March 2012, 02:59 PM	#2
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,708	About time I updated this thread. My restoration was stalled by cold weather and an outdoor workshop. But now spring is returning and it has been warm enough in the last weeks to work on this sword. I have to say this piece should have some good age because the level of scale on it was (and is) incredible. As most of you know I am usually in the school of do almost nothing to pieces in my collection. But in this particular case the corrosion was deep enough it needed to be cleaned as much as possible. I started with light treatments of pineapple juice, then I tried coke... Nothing was moving. Absolutely nothing. I was cautious to use more aggressive methods because there was a good chance parts of the blade were unstable, however with a very slow process of vinegar and carefully monitoring the application each hour I made a lot of progress. The scaling that remains needs a little work, but is so deeply in place I am hesitant to do much more to it. I was told by the seller this sword came directly from the Lobi, but the sword does not seem characteristic of that group... It is possible they acquired it by other means as several kingdoms in the area raided the Lobi (such as the Kénédougou Kingdom). Obviously I want to clean up the sword a little more but I am quite happy with my progress and wanted to show it off as I think it is quite an unusual piece. Attached Images Last edited by Iain; 25th March 2012 at 03:43 PM.

18th June 2011, 12:52 PM	#1
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,708	Hi Martin, Thanks for your kind words. I am finally branching out from just owning takoubas! I am not entirely sure this is Lobi, although it definitely was in their possession. The form just seems wrong for the area, the work not characteristic of that people group. I would also normally be quick to call it a Mandara sword, but that seems geographically a little far away for this example which most certainly was found in Burkina Faso. I am still trying to clean off all the rust and scale. It is proving to be a very stubborn little thing. Meanwhile my quest for a true Mandara sword continues... Cheers, Iain

27th March 2012, 11:18 AM	#3
Martin Lubojacky Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Czech Republic Posts: 843	Hi Iain, Regarding the hilt, I would suggest to clean it with soft brass brush in hot water solution of soda saleratus in aluminium pot (mechanical cleaning + electrolytical reaction). You would remove all impurities and the surface would have uniform, not shiny colour (it could be shiny immediately after the cleaning, but it would receive soft yellow colour in a few days again, after such treatement). Regards, Martin

27th March 2012, 11:26 AM	#4
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,708	Hi Martin, I will maybe try it. I am undecided if I prefer to leave it looking old with this patina so it will match the blade better (since the blade will never look perfect I think)? Do you have some suggestion where to find the brass brushes in CZ?

27th March 2012, 12:35 PM	#5
Martin Lubojacky Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Czech Republic Posts: 843	Any hardware store (or OBI, Hornbach etc), but you also need more gentle brushes, so it is better to contact suppliers of goldsmiths through internet (you will "google" it). Goldsmiths use iron brushes, but very very soft ones(and also expensive in comparision what you can find in hardware store) Regards, Martin

27th March 2012, 12:38 PM	#6
Iain Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Olomouc Posts: 1,708	Thanks Martin, I've tried looking in my local OBI before but never found anything soft enough. I will try with the jewelry suppliers online.