Unusual Masai/Maasai? Spear

Norman McCormick · 4th February 2014, 10:00 PM

Hi Vandoo,
This spearhead is on a commercial website, P.M. if you want the web address, and is described as ceremonial Somali/Danakil, looks a lot like your spearhead with the shaft like the one on this thread. Might be coincidental that the other spear I got with this one has been identified as Somali. Might raise a few ???
My Regards,
Norman.

Richard G · 6th February 2014, 11:19 AM

The postcard is confusing, Naivasha is in Kenya.
Regards
Richard

VANDOO · 6th February 2014, 05:44 PM

YES A BOGUS POST CARD WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT , EVERYTHING THAT IS WRITTEN IS TRUE ISN'T IT.

I SHOULD HAVE CHECKED UP ON WHERE THE OTHER TOWN WAS I AM GLAD SOMEONE ELSE DID. GETTIN LAZY IN MY OLD AGE

I WOULD SAY THIS SPEAR WAS MADE UP BY SOMEONE OTHER THAN THE MASSAI. THE MASSAI HAVE CHOSEN TO MAINTAIN THEIR SOCIETY IN THE OLD AND TRADITIONAL WAYS. THEIR SPEARS AND SWORDS ARE CONSTRUCTED IN A CERTIAN WAY AND FROM WHAT I SAW IN TANZANIA AND KENYA HAVE REMAINED TRUE TO FORM. THIS SPEAR WAS LIKELY PUT TOGETHER BY SOMEONE OTHER THAN A TRADITIONAL MASSAI. THE QUESTION IS WHICH TRIBE AND WHERE THEY ARE LOCATED THAT COVER THE SPEAR SHAFT WITH SECTIONS OF HIDE INTERSPACED WITH LEATHER WORK AS WE SEE ON THESE TWO EXAMPLES? I SUSPECT THE BLADE AND BUTT SPIKE ARE OLDER THAN THE SHAFT ON THE FIRST SPEAR.
MY SPEAR IS 57.5 INCHES LONG AND IS MISSING THE BUTT SPIKE. IT COULD BE USED AS A SHORT THRUSTING AND SLASHING WEAPON BUT IS MOST LIKELY FOR CEREMONIE, PARADES, DANCE OR JUST A TOURIST ITEM.

THE SPEAR POINT ON MINE IS NOT OF GOOD QUALITY LIKE THE ONE SHOWN IN THE PREVIOUS POST AND IS LIKELY MADE OF A PIECE OF SCRAP METAL FROM A CAR OR OIL DRUM OR SOMETHING. THE SHAFT DOES SHOW WEAR AND MOST OF THE HAIR IS GONE FROM THE HIDE COVER SO IT MAY HAVE SEEN SOME LOCAL USE?.

Norman McCormick · 7th February 2014, 07:13 PM

Hi,
Met a friend today whom I hadn't seen in a while, his family owned a farm in Kenya from the early 1920's through to the late 1970's and he was born and brought up in Kenya. They actually owned two farms one of which was adjacent to the Maasai reserve. I described this spear to him and his unreserved opinion was that this is tourist stuff, older tourist, but definitely tourist. As far as I'm concerned this conundrum has been put to bed and I'll now consign this spear to the scrapheap

Regards,
Norman.

VANDOO · 8th February 2014, 12:59 AM

VANDOOS SCRAP HEAP IS AVALABLE FOR ALL SUCH CAST OFFS

Norman McCormick · 8th February 2014, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VANDOO

VANDOOS SCRAP HEAP IS AVALABLE FOR ALL SUCH CAST OFFS

Too late my friend, son and heir has purloined said spear and hotfooted it.

Maybe next time although one hopes there won't be a next time

but sure as eggs are eggs there probably will be.

My Regards,
Norman.

4th February 2014, 10:00 PM	#1
Norman McCormick Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,632	Hi Vandoo, This spearhead is on a commercial website, P.M. if you want the web address, and is described as ceremonial Somali/Danakil, looks a lot like your spearhead with the shaft like the one on this thread. Might be coincidental that the other spear I got with this one has been identified as Somali. Might raise a few ??? My Regards, Norman. Attached Images

7th February 2014, 07:13 PM	#4
Norman McCormick Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,632	Hi, Met a friend today whom I hadn't seen in a while, his family owned a farm in Kenya from the early 1920's through to the late 1970's and he was born and brought up in Kenya. They actually owned two farms one of which was adjacent to the Maasai reserve. I described this spear to him and his unreserved opinion was that this is tourist stuff, older tourist, but definitely tourist. As far as I'm concerned this conundrum has been put to bed and I'll now consign this spear to the scrapheap Regards, Norman. Last edited by Norman McCormick; 7th February 2014 at 10:24 PM.

6th February 2014, 11:19 AM	#2
Richard G Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 412	The postcard is confusing, Naivasha is in Kenya. Regards Richard

6th February 2014, 05:44 PM	#3
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	YES A BOGUS POST CARD WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT , EVERYTHING THAT IS WRITTEN IS TRUE ISN'T IT. I SHOULD HAVE CHECKED UP ON WHERE THE OTHER TOWN WAS I AM GLAD SOMEONE ELSE DID. GETTIN LAZY IN MY OLD AGE I WOULD SAY THIS SPEAR WAS MADE UP BY SOMEONE OTHER THAN THE MASSAI. THE MASSAI HAVE CHOSEN TO MAINTAIN THEIR SOCIETY IN THE OLD AND TRADITIONAL WAYS. THEIR SPEARS AND SWORDS ARE CONSTRUCTED IN A CERTIAN WAY AND FROM WHAT I SAW IN TANZANIA AND KENYA HAVE REMAINED TRUE TO FORM. THIS SPEAR WAS LIKELY PUT TOGETHER BY SOMEONE OTHER THAN A TRADITIONAL MASSAI. THE QUESTION IS WHICH TRIBE AND WHERE THEY ARE LOCATED THAT COVER THE SPEAR SHAFT WITH SECTIONS OF HIDE INTERSPACED WITH LEATHER WORK AS WE SEE ON THESE TWO EXAMPLES? I SUSPECT THE BLADE AND BUTT SPIKE ARE OLDER THAN THE SHAFT ON THE FIRST SPEAR. MY SPEAR IS 57.5 INCHES LONG AND IS MISSING THE BUTT SPIKE. IT COULD BE USED AS A SHORT THRUSTING AND SLASHING WEAPON BUT IS MOST LIKELY FOR CEREMONIE, PARADES, DANCE OR JUST A TOURIST ITEM. THE SPEAR POINT ON MINE IS NOT OF GOOD QUALITY LIKE THE ONE SHOWN IN THE PREVIOUS POST AND IS LIKELY MADE OF A PIECE OF SCRAP METAL FROM A CAR OR OIL DRUM OR SOMETHING. THE SHAFT DOES SHOW WEAR AND MOST OF THE HAIR IS GONE FROM THE HIDE COVER SO IT MAY HAVE SEEN SOME LOCAL USE?.

8th February 2014, 12:59 AM	#5
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	VANDOOS SCRAP HEAP IS AVALABLE FOR ALL SUCH CAST OFFS