African ethno sabre for coments

fernando · 2nd September 2008, 06:04 PM

Just look at the following coments, received from a guy that runs a gallery of African art, and who is also a collector:

This is a very nice sword, an interesting ethnographic piece. I'm not so sure about the origin, the metal work doesn't seem Dogon to me, but more a Mossi (Burkina) work. The form is very elegant, and the piece seems old (I would say 19th). The shape looks like an old French colonial period sword. The bird head at the pommel is certainly a hornbill (prominent eyes and a long beak). Anyway, a nice interesting piece. Dogon blacksmiths are not so good, except with iron works, so the pommel should have been done by a Mossi blacksmith.
Hope this will help.

No coments

.

Fernando

Jim McDougall · 2nd September 2008, 06:29 PM

Thats excellent Fernando, and I admire your tenacity! It seems that Tim was right about the hornbill (which does not surprise me with his knowledge on African art).
It seems interesting that the hornbill is so prevalent in representation in other ethnographic spheres also, and though I am not that familiar with Asian and Indonesian symbology, I recall that the hornbill is often mentioned with the 'mandau' and it seems some other weapons.

Interesting comments on the Mossi attribution also.

Best regards,
Jim

Tim Simmons · 2nd September 2008, 06:53 PM

You make me blush, just when I thought I had my roseasia under control.

2nd September 2008, 06:04 PM	#1
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Tim your'e the best Just look at the following coments, received from a guy that runs a gallery of African art, and who is also a collector: This is a very nice sword, an interesting ethnographic piece. I'm not so sure about the origin, the metal work doesn't seem Dogon to me, but more a Mossi (Burkina) work. The form is very elegant, and the piece seems old (I would say 19th). The shape looks like an old French colonial period sword. The bird head at the pommel is certainly a hornbill (prominent eyes and a long beak). Anyway, a nice interesting piece. Dogon blacksmiths are not so good, except with iron works, so the pommel should have been done by a Mossi blacksmith. Hope this will help. No coments . Fernando

2nd September 2008, 06:29 PM	#2
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,196	Thats excellent Fernando, and I admire your tenacity! It seems that Tim was right about the hornbill (which does not surprise me with his knowledge on African art). It seems interesting that the hornbill is so prevalent in representation in other ethnographic spheres also, and though I am not that familiar with Asian and Indonesian symbology, I recall that the hornbill is often mentioned with the 'mandau' and it seems some other weapons. Interesting comments on the Mossi attribution also. Best regards, Jim

2nd September 2008, 06:53 PM	#3
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,844	You make me blush, just when I thought I had my roseasia under control.