Spears for discussion

[Tim Simmons]

This might muddy the waters a little more or could point towards the Philippines and Asia. The blades do have some shape similarity to Philippine spears. The weave does have patterns like Amazon work but so do these clubs from Micronesia. The metal could come from colonial rulers. Pictures taken in the Berlin ethnographic collection. I have seen a metal Amazon spear at the British museum, it had no weave and the blade was less stylistic not following a traditional form. The haft was a dark brown heavy wood, I think there might have been a few feathers on it but sure it was perhaps a decade ago. It was in a special exhibition in the great hall.

[Gavin Nugent]

Originally Posted by Tim Simmons

The weave does have patterns like Amazon work but so do these clubs from Micronesia.

Hi Tim,

The clubs certainly do have the similar ilk to the pattern on the spear.

...but...

However, despite the contrasting materials, the method of weave and materials do differ...I can only say this based on the examples I have held and those still within my personal collection, the ones you have seen.

From what I can see, without a clearer image being provided, is that the spear shown and the Amazon clubs I have had experience with all have the light coloured round grass like material running vertically which are then woven with the flat darker material to form the patterns.

These clubs you present display a different weaving with which both colours are the flat type running in different different directions.

This is the simplest ID I have found to ID Amazon binding.

Gavin

PS, did the three books arrive safely?

[Tim Simmons]

It would not surprise me if these are Dayak or other Borneo people. Just Google Borneo Dayak spears images and very similar blades indeed can be found. Weaving like this is not uncommon in places even PNG.

[Battara]

The blades do look Borneo to me............

[ausjulius]

Sumatran natives .. bataks .. is it.. have a spear of this shape...